Dielectric barrier discharge plasma coupled with WO3 for bisphenol A degradation

Based on the difficulty of the refractory organic compounds degradation in water by the traditional wastewater treatment methods, the research relies on the technology of the dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBDP) and the catalysis of the nano WO3, investigating the bisphenol A (BPA) degradation in the synergistic system of DBDP/WO3. The coupled degradation percentage of the BPA under different amounts of WO3 addition, different initial solution pH and carrier gas were investigated to confirm the catalysis of the WO3 in the DBDP system. It was obtained from the experimental results that the optimal additive amount of the WO3 was 175 mg L−1 and change of the solution pH value and the carrier gas variety could not change the catalysis of the WO3. The BPA degradation percentage could reach 100% after treating 30 min in the DBDP/WO3 system with 0.5 L min−1 O2 as the carrier gas. The WO3 still had a better catalysis after four times usage and the discharge had little effect on the microstructure of the WO3. The existence of the WO3 in the DBDP system could result in the reduction of the O3 concentration and the enhancement of the H2O2 concentration, which improve the catalysis of the WO3 in the DBDP system, while the experiments on the scavengers’ addition verified the major role of the OH on the BPA degradation. The catalytic mechanism of the WO3 as well as the BPA degradation pathway was also speculated in the research. •There was a catalysis of the WO3 in the dielectric barrier discharge plasma system for the bisphenol A degradation.•The optimum additive amount of the WO3 was evaluated.•Change of the O3 and the H2O2 concentrations, and the effect of scavengers’ addition were used to declare the catalysis.•The catalytic mechanism was speculated.