Decolorization of reactive textile dyes using water falling film dielectric barrier discharge

► Decolorization of four reactive textile dyes using non-thermal plasma reactor. ► Influence of applied energy on decolorization. ► Effects of initial pH and addition of homogeneous catalysts. ► Toxicity evaluation using the brine shrimp as a test organism. Decolorization of reactive textile dyes Reactive Black 5, Reactive Blue 52, Reactive Yellow 125 and Reactive Green 15 was studied using advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in a non-thermal plasma reactor, based on coaxial water falling film dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). Used initial dye concentrations in the solution were 40.0 and 80.0 mg/L. The effects of different initial pH of dye solutions, and addition of homogeneous catalysts (H 2O 2, Fe 2+ and Cu 2+) on the decolorization during subsequent recirculation of dye solution through the DBD reactor, i.e. applied energy density (45–315 kJ/L) were studied. Influence of residence time was investigated over a period of 24 h. Change of pH values and effect of pH adjustments of dye solution after each recirculation on the decolorization was also tested. It was found that the initial pH of dye solutions and pH adjustments of dye solution after each recirculation did not influence the decolorization. The most effective decolorization of 97% was obtained with addition of 10 mM H 2O 2 in a system of 80.0 mg/L Reactive Black 5 with applied energy density of 45 kJ/L, after residence time of 24 h from plasma treatment. Toxicity was evaluated using the brine shrimp Artemia salina as a test organism.