Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Gas-Liquid Pulse Discharge Plasma-Induced Degradation of Polyvinyl Alcohol-Containing Wastewater

A multi-needle-to-plate pulsed discharge plasma reactor was designed to investigate its potential for polyvinyl alcohol-containing wastewater (PVA) treatment. The effects of some operational parameters such as PVA initial concentration, pulse peak discharge voltage, air flow rate, solution pH value, and iron additives on PVA degradation were examined. The results indicated that PVA could be effectively degraded from aqueous solutions. PVA degradation efficiency was 76.0 % within 60 min's discharge plasma treatment with 1.5 mmol L-1 Fe2+ addition. Decreasing PVA initial concentration and increasing pulse peak discharge voltage were both beneficial for PVA degradation. There existed appropriate air flow rate for obtaining great PVA degradation efficiency in the present study. A little acid environment was conducive to PVA degradation. The presence of Fe2+ and Cu2+ could both benefit PVA degradation, and the increment of Fe2+ and Cu2+ concentrations to a certain extent could enhance its degradation efficiency, as well as energy yield. PVA possible degradation mechanisms were discussed, and the degradation processes were mainly triggered by the reactions of PVA with radicals.