Degradation of phenolic compounds in water by non-thermal plasma treatment

Abstract

A stainless-steel hollow needle type anode was used in the reactor to treat industrial wastewater by gas-liquid phase non-thermal plasma by corona discharge. The results showed that the short electrode gap, 1 cm, has a higher plasma energy density which improves the removal of the phenolic derivatives, reaching 100% after about 60 min. The H₂O₂ concentration was higher in the discharge system when the content of oxygen was increased. The efficiency of the phenol removal by chemical oxygen demand was only 10 – 31% after 60 minutes. The identifie dinterme diates were catechol, hydroquinone,1,4-benzoquinone, 2-nitrophenol,1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diphenylmethanone, 2-methyl-hydroquinone, 2-methyl-1,4-bezoquinone, and trace amounts of organic.