Unwinding the correlation between atmospheric pressure plasma jet operating parameters and variation in antibiotic wastewater characteristics

The influence of plasma operating parameters such as gas medium, electrode distance, applied voltage, gas flow rate, and their interdependency on reactive species generation was investigated. Full factorial design-based response surface methodology (RSM) was used to establish the correlation between the operating parameters. The optimization studies were carried out by taking energy yield and degradation efficiency as response parameters. The operating voltage of 9 kV, the airflow rate of 2 LPM, and the electrode distance of 5 mm are optimum for the system studied. The higher voltage of 9 kV and a flow rate of 2 LPM give maximum yield due to the increased rate of gas atoms undergoing ionization. However, at the low voltage (5 kV), the increase in air flow rate from 0.5 to 2 LPM, the energy yield decreases from 67.5 to 54.2 mg/kWh. These observations are further supported by measuring OH (A-X) intensity in an air medium using optical emission spectroscopy. The studies also reveal that the degradation efficiency is adversely affected by scavenges, with a maximum from isopropyl alcohol, followed by tert-butyl alcohol and methanol. TOC and LC-MS analyses established complete mineralization and its degradation pathway. Phytotoxicity studies suggest that treated effluent, rich in nitrates, is suitable for irrigation, promoting seed germination. In short, the studies provide a strategy to optimize the generation of reactive chemical species in a reactor and how such optimization would help attain optimum energy yield, especially when there is a fluctuation in target pollutant concentration. [Display omitted] •Influence of antibiotic concentration on plasma-operating parameters is established.•Scavenger presence hampers CP removal, requiring 2–2.5 times more treatment time.•Acidic conditions excel CP removal with 130% higher efficiency than alkaline.•High voltage and flow rates in the APPJ reactor showed enhanced CP removal.•A sustainable recycling method for reusing air plasma-treated antibiotic wastewater.