Elimination of AB210 dye in residual textile water by glow-discharge plasma application

Owing to the global population growth and economic development in several developing countries, the availability of clean drinking water is a problem that has been growing in parallel with the continual increase in water consumption. Atmospheric nonthermal plasma discharge is inexpensive and safe in comparison of other toxic chemical methods of wastewater treatment. Here, the results of treating wastewater containing the Acid Black 210 (AB210) dye, at a concentration of 0.5 mM, are presented. In this process, Fe2+ filings are used as a catalyst. The treatment was carried out by means of plasma generated at atmospheric pressure on the surface of water. The effectiveness of the degradation of AB210 was quantified at different treatment times, 0–180 min, obtaining a 99.9% removal rate of the dye. The experiments were performed at an initial volume of 250 mL, and the electrical conductivity, pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total organic carbon (TOC) were determined. The changes in the spectral range (200–1,100 nm) of the plasma during wastewater treatment were studied.