Atmospheric pressure plasma treatment of aqueous bisphenol A solution

Abstract

This work investigated the plasma treatment of aqueous bisphenol A (BPA) solution and mineralization pathways. For the effective contact between plasmatic gas and aqueous BPA solution, the plasma was created inside a porous ceramic tube, which was uniformly dispersed into the aqueous solution through micro-pores of the ceramic tube. Effects of the gas flow rate, applied voltage and treatment time on the decomposition of BPA were examined, and analyses using ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, ion chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were also performed to elucidate mineralization mechanisms. The appropriate gas flow rate was around 1.0 L min; when the gas flow rate was too high or too low, the BPA decomposition performance at a given electric power decreased. The increase in the voltage improves the BPA decomposition due to the increased electric power, but the energy required to remove BPA was similar, regardless of the voltage. Under the condition of 1.0 L min and 20.8 kV, BPA at an initial concentration of 10 mg L (volume: 1 L) was successfully treated within 30 min. The intermediates produced by the attack of ozone and hydroxyl radicals on BPA were further oxidized to stable compounds such as acetate, formate and oxalate. © 2015, Korean Society of Industrial Engineering Chemistry. All right reserved.