Session: Advances in Electrochemistry:

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) is an emerging technology that can generate numerous oxidizing and reducing species at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperatures. This study was carried out using a pin to water DC discharge cold atmospheric pressure plasma for wastewater and drinking water inactivation. Within the many species produced by the plasma, the OH radical has one of the strongest oxidation potentials. This allows the OH radical to oxidize many substances in wastewater and even decompose pollutants. The quantification of the OH radical generated by our plasma source was determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Plasma ignition was carried out using argon and argon + 20% oxygen gas respectively. Salicylic acid was used as a probe for the OH radical. Quantification of OH radicals generated in the liquid water were obtained by using HPLC and adding the byproducts together. Salicylic acid reacts with the OH radical to produce 2,3-DHBA, 2,5-DHBA, and catechol. The chromatograms received from HPLC runs indicated that plasma treatment with argon + 20% oxygen produces more OH radicals than argon gas alone. However, catechol could not be detected through mass spectrometry and is not present in this setup.

Peter J. Bruggeman

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