We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Dielectric barrier discharge plasma for the remediation of microplastic-contaminated soil from landfill
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers applied dielectric barrier discharge plasma to actual microplastic-contaminated landfill soil and found that plasma treatment effectively degraded multiple polymer types in situ, offering a promising non-biological remediation approach for landfill soils with high microplastic burdens.
The huge amount of plastic waste accumulated in landfills has caused serious microplastic (MP) pollution to the soil environment, which has become an urgent issue in recent years. It is challenging to deal with the non-biodegradable MP pollutants in actual soil from landfills. In this study, a coaxial dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system was proposed to remediate actual MP-contaminated landfill soil due to its strong oxidation capacity. The influence of carrier gas type, applied voltage, and air flow rate was investigated, and the possible degradation pathways of MP pollutants were suggested. Results showed the landfill soil samples contained four common MP pollutants, including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with sizes ranging from 50 to 1500 μm. The MP pollutants in the soil were rapidly removed under the action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by DBD plasma. Under the air flow rate of 1500 mL min, the maximum remediation efficiency represented by mass loss reached 96.5% after 30 min treatment. Compared with nitrogen, when air was used as the carrier gas, the remediation efficiency increased from 41.4% to 81.6%. The increased applied voltage from 17.5 to 24.1 kV could also promote the removal of MP contaminants. Sufficient air supply was conducive to thorough removal. However, when the air flow rate reached 1500 mL min and continued to rise, the final remediation efficiency would be reduced due to the shortened residence time of ROS. The DBD plasma treatment proposed in this study showed high energy efficiency (19.03 mg kJ) and remediation performance (96.5%). The results are instructive for solving MP pollution in the soil environment.
More Papers Like This
Efficient degradation of polystyrene microplastic pollutants in soil by dielectric barrier discharge plasma
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used a plasma-based technique called dielectric barrier discharge to break down polystyrene microplastics in soil and achieved a degradation rate of nearly 99 percent within one hour. The process works by generating reactive oxygen species that chemically decompose the plastic, converting most of it into carbon dioxide. The study presents this technology as a fast and energy-efficient approach for treating microplastic-contaminated soil.
Low-Density Polyethylene Degradation and Energy Yield Using Dielectric Barrier Discharge under Various Electrical Conditions
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used dielectric barrier discharge plasma to degrade low-density polyethylene plastic under varying electrical conditions, evaluating both degradation efficiency and energy yield. The approach offers a faster alternative to conventional plastic degradation methods for addressing microplastic pollution.
Non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma for the degradation of microplastics suspended in water: Evidence from CO2 quantification and spectroscopic analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma as a direct treatment for mineralising microplastics suspended in water, using CO2 quantification and spectroscopic analysis to confirm degradation of plastic particles that resist conventional remediation.
Degradation of polyethylene microplastics using high-repetition-rate pulsed dielectric barrier discharge plasma in air under mild conditions
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a method for degrading polyethylene microplastics using high-repetition-rate pulsed dielectric barrier discharge plasma in air, achieving complete degradation of 0.1 g of PE microplastics within 3 hours at 15 kV and 20 kHz without catalysts or additional carrier gases.
Characteristics of Degradation According to Microplastic Amount inside Dielectric Barrier Discharge
AI summary Read the abstract
Korean researchers used dielectric barrier discharge plasma to degrade microplastic particles, testing how the amount of particles injected affected the efficiency of the degradation process. Plasma-based treatment methods are being explored as a way to physically break down microplastic pollution.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.