Recent progress on application of nonthermal plasma for the degradation of aqueous emerging contaminants: A review on mechanism, reactor strategies, integrated systems and future perspective

Water and wastewater have become a haven for various emerging contaminants (ECs), regardless of source of generation, because they are consumed globally for a variety of purposes. Non-thermal plasma (NTP), one of the many methods used, has drawn a lot of attention lately for its potential to degrade different ECs in aqueous environments. This study examines the latest developments in the eradication of different ECs using NTP. During the first segment, we went over the most recent changes made to the NTP reactor, weighed the advantages and disadvantages of modified and conventional reactors, and had a thorough discussion of water spray reactors. Specifically, the overall process efficiency is greatly influenced by the reactor modification. This article offers a critical analysis of water spray reactors, which, when compared to conventional NTP reactors, brought about significant changes in terms of pollutant degradation efficiency, energy consumption, and degradation yield. This overview aids in the comprehension of upcoming studies evaluating the NTP method for applications in water treatment.