Degradation of pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater by non-thermal plasma technology: A comprehensive Review

Abstract

According to research reports, the accumulation of organic pollutants in various water bodies is becoming increasingly evident, particularly pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical intermediates, posing serious risks to human health and the ecological environment. As one of the emerging advanced oxidation technologies, low-temperature plasma technology has achieved the attention of experts and scholars both domestically and internationally due to its ability to rapidly and efficiently treat refractory organic compound without introducing additional pollutants. Among the various methods for generating low-temperature plasma, dielectric barrier discharge stands out due to its stable discharge, ease of implementation, and low cost. It is expected to become the most promising technology for industrial wastewater degradation in the future. This paper begins by summarizing the current state of wastewater pollution and removal research. It then briefly reviews the degradation reaction mechanisms and highlights representative high-efficiency reactor devices. Finally, it analyzes the influence of various reaction factors from a theoretical perspective, summarizing how each variable affects degradation efficiency to provide a theoretical basis for selecting optimal parameters for subsequent experimental research. Based on this analysis, the paper also discusses the challenges faced by this technology and identifies focus areas for future research.