Catalytic non-thermal plasma reactor for mineralization of endosulfan in aqueous medium: A green approach for the treatment of pesticide contaminated water

An advanced oxidation process for the mineralization of a model pesticide endosulfan from aqueous medium has been developed by non-thermal plasma combined with cerium oxide catalysts. Plasma was generated in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor, whereas ceria was prepared by combustion synthesis and characterized by various physico-chemical techniques. Typical results indicated the synergy between plasma excitation of endosulfan followed by the catalytic action of cerium oxide, which not only improved the conversion, but also increased the mineralization efficiency, which was confirmed by a total organic carbon content analyzer and an infrared CO analyzer. Catalytic plasma approach showed a threefold increase in mineralization. Degradation followed first-order kinetics and rate of degradation is proportional to power input and reciprocal to initial endosulfan concentrations. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.