Removal of lindane in water by non-thermal plasma: Parametric optimization, kinetic study, energy yield evaluation, and toxicity assessment

As a broadly used organochlorine pesticide in the last decades, lindane is frequently detected in waters, causing negative impacts on human health and the environment. Non-thermal plasma appears as an effective option for removing lindane in water. The contribution of this study lies in the comprehensive analysis of the plasma oxidation of lindane using dialectic barriers discharge (DBD). The effect of initial lindane concentration, plasma time, plasma zone, and pH was assessed using DBD. The process optimization was performed by response surface methodology, and kinetic energy yield and acute toxicity were also evaluated. The obtained results indicated that the interaction of plasma zone and initial lindane concentration has a remarkable impact on lindane removal. The lindane removal decreased with the initial lindane concentration and plasma zone decrease. The maximum value of lindane removal (92.12%) was obtained under optimum conditions: pH value of 9.46, plasma time 14.8 min, plasma zone 2 mm, and initial lindane concentration of 1 mg L-1. Also, the energy yield was obtained 2.242 g kW (-1) h(-1) in the optimum condition. The removal rates were best fitted with a first-order kinetic removal model. The acute toxicity analysis revealed that the DBD plasma effluent did not induce any significant toxic effect on Daphnia Magna.

Automated summary

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of plasma oxidation of lindane using DBD, identifying optimal conditions for removal and highlighting the significant impact of the interaction between plasma zone and initial lindane concentration on removal efficiency. Additionally, the DBD plasma effluent showed no significant toxic effects on Daphnia Magna.