Removal of harmful recalcitrant organic substances (anthropogenic or otherwise) from water and aqueous matrices like leachate is indispensable for ensuring public health and safety, and for
environmental protection.
The choice of technology for contaminants removal is case specific and often relies on Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs), like Fenton reaction, sonication and photocatalysis that use hydroxyl radical (·OH) as the main oxidant species. The use of chemicals and high energy demand, however, are their associated drawbacks.
Additionally, removal of highly stable organic pollutants, e.g., poly-and perfluorinated substances (PFAS), is still a great challenge.
The present technology, exploiting the action of electrons and ions besides that of OH radicals, relates to a new and efficient plasma reactor system for the removal of any recalcitrant organic compound, in particular surfactants.