Enhanced sulfadiazine degradation in a multi-electrode paralleling DBD plasma system coupled with ZnO/cellulose acetate films

Abstract

Catalysis of the ZnO/cellulose acetate (CA) films in a multi-electrode paralleling dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system for sulfadiazine (SDZ) degradation was investigated in this study. The catalysis was induced by the multiple physical and chemical effects produced during the DBD process. The obtained results on the reactive species formation revealed that the more O3, •OH as well as 1O2 could be formed by the addition of the ZnO/CA films into the DBD plasma system. The optimal additive conditions of the catalyst were 4 pieces of 3% the ZnO/CA films addition. There was a better catalytic effect of the ZnO/CA films than the equal amount of the nano ZnO powder addition. The ZnO/CA films still took on the catalytic activity after four cycles usage in the DBD plasma system. The possible degradation pathways were also speculated by analyzing the inorganic and organic intermediates formed during the SDZ degradation.