A sustainable approach for efficient removal ofphenolic contaminates from water through DBD nonthermalplasma method

This research focuses on the evaluation of non-thermal plasma as a sustainable and effective solutionfor the removal of ۴-nitrophenol (۴-NP), a hazardous contaminant classified by the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA). The study investigates the influence of key operating factors, namely initialpH, applied voltage, and initial concentration of ۴-NP, on the performance of the dielectric barrierdischarge (DBD) system, aiming to identify optimal conditions. Comparative analysis is conducted toassess the results in relation to existing methods reported in the literature. The findings demonstratethat non-thermal plasma exhibits remarkable efficiency in reducing ۴-NP concentrations in pollutedwater, achieving removal rates of up to ۹۸%. Optimum conditions for maximum degradation areidentified as pH ۱۱, applied voltage of ۲۲ kV, and initial concentration of ۲۰۰ mg/l. These resultsunderscore the potential of DBD as an environmentally friendly and efficient method for thedegradation of ۴-NP, outperforming other techniques.