Characterizations of a Plasma-Water System Generated by Repetitive Microsecond Pulsed Discharge with Air, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Argon Gases Species

A non-thermal plasma-water system using a microsecond pulsed high-voltage power supply was investigated with air, nitrogen, oxygen, and argon gas feedings individually. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was utilized to characterize the primary active species inside the plasmas generated by different gas feedings. The OES method was also employed to estimate the neutral gas and electron temperatures. The pH and the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of plasma-activated water (PAW) were measured in the liquid phase. An ion chromatography system (ICS) was employed to present the PAW activity, such as nitrite and nitrate species. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide as a secondary active species inside the activated water, generated by the gases mentioned above, was measured by potassium permanganate titration. It was found that the gas species have a noticeable effect on the pH level as well as the ORP of PAW. In the cases of argon and oxygen plasmas, the pH level of PAW does not change significantly. In contrast, the pH values of PAW generated by air and nitrogen plasmas decline sharply during the treatment time. Moreover, the gas species have a significant impact on the concentrations of nitrite, nitrate, and hydrogen peroxide generated in PAW. The activated water generated by oxygen plasma provides the highest level of hydrogen peroxide. Although the consumed power of argon plasmas was half of the other plasma sources, it provides relatively high hydrogen peroxide contents compared to the nitrogen and air plasmas.

Automated summary

The study shows that different gas species have a significant impact on the pH level, ORP level, nitrite/nitrate concentrations, and hydrogen peroxide content of plasma-activated water (PAW). Argon and oxygen plasmas do not significantly affect the pH level of PAW, while air and nitrogen plasmas cause a sharp decrease in pH during the treatment. Additionally, oxygen plasma provides the highest level of hydrogen peroxide, while argon plasma, despite consuming less power, still has relatively high hydrogen peroxide contents compared to nitrogen and air plasmas.