Elucidating the synergistic effects of aeration and non-thermal plasma on the degradation pathways of specific pollutants in wastewater.

Organic pollutants originating from industrial discharges pose significant threats to human health and ecological balance. Conventional pretreatment methods face challenges due to high costs, limited efficiency, and the generation of residual sludge. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology, a promising advanced oxidation process, has attracted substantial research interest for its potential to rapidly and effectively treat industrial wastewater. This study employed a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor to investigate the feasibility of low-cost, efficient industrial wastewater treatment through NTP-mediated pollutant degradation. NTP generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), capable of complete organic pollutant oxidation. Wastewater samples from Kaveh Industrial City underwent treatment in a DBD reactor to induce the formation of reactive agents. Water quality parameters, including turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), and pH, were measured before and after synergetic plasma treatment. The combination of aeration/filtration and 90 min of plasma treatment significantly reduced turbidity compared to untreated wastewater. A 30-min NTP treatment coupled with aeration/filtration demonstrated superior efficiency in removing TDS and TSS, attributed to NTP-generated active species. Optimal COD and BOD removal was achieved through a 24-h aeration, adsorbent filtration, and 30-min NTP process. While standalone 30-min NTP treatment exhibited lower efficiency, the combined aeration/filtration system reduced EC and increased pH with extended plasma exposure. A comparative study of advanced oxidation processes showed that plasma treatment effectively reduced COD by 65 %. Plasma offers a cost-effective and efficient solution for wastewater treatment, despite slightly higher energy consumption. These findings underscore the potential of NTP as a viable strategy for industrial wastewater treatment. The integration of NTP with conventional pretreatment methods offers promising prospects for enhancing wastewater quality and environmental protection.