The promising results of pharmaceutical removal from water using atmospheric plasma.
Assessment of the effectiveness of atmospheric plasma on the removal of selected pharmaceuticals from water - ScienceDirect
Highlights from Recent Research:
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Effective Removal of Antibiotics: The Henniker Cirrus atmospheric plasma system has shown significant success in degrading antibiotics in water. The Cirrus achieved up to 98% removal of trimethoprim in just 5 seconds and 73% removal of sulfamethoxazole within minutes. This is a major step forward in tackling antibiotic contamination.
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Impressive Diclofenac Reduction: The system also demonstrated a 91% reduction in diclofenac concentration in just 30 seconds, suggesting that with optimized exposure times, the Cirrus could achieve even greater efficiency.
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Optimization Opportunities for Challenging Compounds: While compounds like carbamazepine and caffeine posed more of a challenge, the study indicates that adjusting operational parameters could enhance results.
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Cost Effective: The ability of the Cirrus to use just atmospheric air as a discharge gas also represents a significant cost-saving when compared with current treatment methods.
[1] Figure 3 In-process concentration reduction for trimethoprim courtesy of https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2024.10060
Why This Matters: As concerns grow over pharmaceutical residues in water, atmospheric plasma is emerging as a powerful tool in the fight to protect our water resources. This technology not only offers a promising solution to current challenges but also represents a scalable, economical approach to water treatment.
Looking Ahead: The findings from these studies are a testament to the potential of atmospheric plasma in water treatment. With ongoing research and development, this could soon be the go-to technology for ensuring clean and safe water, free from pharmaceutical contaminants.
[2] "This technology has incredible potential that should be exploited."
Henniker's Cirrus Atmospheric System
Keywords
- Atmospheric Plasma
- Pharmaceuticals
- Wastewater
- Water treatment
- Micropollutants
References
[1] Figure 3 In-process concentration reduction for trimethoprim courtesy of https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2024.10060 - Assessment of the effectiveness of atmospheric plasma on the removal of selected pharmaceuticals from water - ScienceDirect
[2] Quotation from, section 4. Conclusions and future perspectives, courtesy of https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2024.10060 - Assessment of the effectiveness of atmospheric plasma on the removal of selected pharmaceuticals from water - ScienceDirect
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Readers are referred to the original paper published in October 2024, available through the provided DOI link, or click the link below for further details on Plasma Treatment of Water.
Plasma Activated Water Application Note
