Distinguish the Role of DBD-Accompanying UV-Radiation in the Degradation of Bisphenol A

Discharge plasma oxidation has been widely applied in treatment of organic pollutants including bisphenol A (BPA). However, the conventionally accepted mechanism of BPA degradation is mainly ascribed to oxidation by the active species produced from discharge plasma. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation as one source of plasma discharge energy release is intrinsically accompanied with plasma discharge, yet its role in degradation of BPA has not been explicitly identified. In present study, the light emission from the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) at spectral region 190–620 nm for different working discharge gases was determined and the role of the UV radiation in the degradation of BPA was carefully scrutinized. It was confirmed for the first time that in the DBD treatment of BPA, the UV radiation accompanied with the plasma discharge could work together with hydrogen peroxide generated from the plasma discharge so that the efficiency of BPA degradation could be improved remarkably. Graphical Abstract