Application of Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization of Operating Conditions of a Self-Pulsing Discharge (SPD) Plasma Reactor for the Degradation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Water

Kubra Ulucan-Altuntas; Simone Foglia; Mubbshir Saleem; Giulia Tomei; Elisa Ceriani; Massimo Carmagnani; Ester Marotta; Cristina Paradisi

doi:10.1002/ppap.202400155

Application of Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization of Operating Conditions of a Self-Pulsing Discharge (SPD) Plasma Reactor for the Degradation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Water

Kubra Ulucan-Altuntas^*
, Simone Foglia
, Mubbshir Saleem^*
, Giulia Tomei
, Elisa Ceriani
, Massimo Carmagnani
, Ester Marotta
, Cristina Paradisi

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Environmental Engineering

University of Padua
Acque Veronesi s.c.a.r.l.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study explores atmospheric plasma as a novel approach for the degradation of persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in contaminated waters. Using response surface methodology and Box–Behnken design, the performance of the self-pulsing discharge (SPD) reactor was optimized by adjusting the following independent factors: input power, plasma area-to-liquid volume ratio, and argon bubbling time. Optimization was assessed using four specific indicators: k_PFOA and G₅₀, for the process velocity and energy efficiency, respectively; k_PFOA/k_PFHpA and ΣPFAS/C₀, both for the presence of PFAS in the treated water for the process products. Under the optimized operating conditions, residual PFAS summed up to only 2.4% of the carbon initially present as PFOA, and a remarkable G₅₀ value of (523 ± 10) mg/kWh was obtained.

Original language	English
Article number	2400155
Journal	Plasma Processes and Polymers
Volume	22
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/ppap.202400155
Publication status	Published - Jan 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Plasma Processes and Polymers published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

PFOA
atmospheric plasma water treatment
response surface methodology (RSM)
self-pulsing discharge

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10.1002/ppap.202400155

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Ulucan-Altuntas, K., Foglia, S., Saleem, M., Tomei, G., Ceriani, E., Carmagnani, M., Marotta, E., & Paradisi, C. (2025). Application of Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization of Operating Conditions of a Self-Pulsing Discharge (SPD) Plasma Reactor for the Degradation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Water. Plasma Processes and Polymers, 22(1), Article 2400155. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppap.202400155

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title = "Application of Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization of Operating Conditions of a Self-Pulsing Discharge (SPD) Plasma Reactor for the Degradation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Water",

abstract = "This study explores atmospheric plasma as a novel approach for the degradation of persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in contaminated waters. Using response surface methodology and Box–Behnken design, the performance of the self-pulsing discharge (SPD) reactor was optimized by adjusting the following independent factors: input power, plasma area-to-liquid volume ratio, and argon bubbling time. Optimization was assessed using four specific indicators: kPFOA and G50, for the process velocity and energy efficiency, respectively; kPFOA/kPFHpA and ΣPFAS/C0, both for the presence of PFAS in the treated water for the process products. Under the optimized operating conditions, residual PFAS summed up to only 2.4\% of the carbon initially present as PFOA, and a remarkable G50 value of (523 ± 10) mg/kWh was obtained.",

keywords = "PFOA, atmospheric plasma water treatment, response surface methodology (RSM), self-pulsing discharge",

author = "Kubra Ulucan-Altuntas and Simone Foglia and Mubbshir Saleem and Giulia Tomei and Elisa Ceriani and Massimo Carmagnani and Ester Marotta and Cristina Paradisi",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Author(s). Plasma Processes and Polymers published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.",

year = "2025",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1002/ppap.202400155",

language = "English",

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Ulucan-Altuntas, K, Foglia, S, Saleem, M, Tomei, G, Ceriani, E, Carmagnani, M, Marotta, E & Paradisi, C 2025, 'Application of Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization of Operating Conditions of a Self-Pulsing Discharge (SPD) Plasma Reactor for the Degradation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Water', Plasma Processes and Polymers, vol. 22, no. 1, 2400155. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppap.202400155

Application of Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization of Operating Conditions of a Self-Pulsing Discharge (SPD) Plasma Reactor for the Degradation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Water. / Ulucan-Altuntas, Kubra; Foglia, Simone; Saleem, Mubbshir et al.
In: Plasma Processes and Polymers, Vol. 22, No. 1, 2400155, 01.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Application of Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization of Operating Conditions of a Self-Pulsing Discharge (SPD) Plasma Reactor for the Degradation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Water

AU - Ulucan-Altuntas, Kubra

AU - Foglia, Simone

AU - Saleem, Mubbshir

AU - Tomei, Giulia

AU - Ceriani, Elisa

AU - Carmagnani, Massimo

AU - Marotta, Ester

AU - Paradisi, Cristina

PY - 2025/1

Y1 - 2025/1

N2 - This study explores atmospheric plasma as a novel approach for the degradation of persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in contaminated waters. Using response surface methodology and Box–Behnken design, the performance of the self-pulsing discharge (SPD) reactor was optimized by adjusting the following independent factors: input power, plasma area-to-liquid volume ratio, and argon bubbling time. Optimization was assessed using four specific indicators: kPFOA and G50, for the process velocity and energy efficiency, respectively; kPFOA/kPFHpA and ΣPFAS/C0, both for the presence of PFAS in the treated water for the process products. Under the optimized operating conditions, residual PFAS summed up to only 2.4% of the carbon initially present as PFOA, and a remarkable G50 value of (523 ± 10) mg/kWh was obtained.

AB - This study explores atmospheric plasma as a novel approach for the degradation of persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in contaminated waters. Using response surface methodology and Box–Behnken design, the performance of the self-pulsing discharge (SPD) reactor was optimized by adjusting the following independent factors: input power, plasma area-to-liquid volume ratio, and argon bubbling time. Optimization was assessed using four specific indicators: kPFOA and G50, for the process velocity and energy efficiency, respectively; kPFOA/kPFHpA and ΣPFAS/C0, both for the presence of PFAS in the treated water for the process products. Under the optimized operating conditions, residual PFAS summed up to only 2.4% of the carbon initially present as PFOA, and a remarkable G50 value of (523 ± 10) mg/kWh was obtained.

KW - PFOA

KW - atmospheric plasma water treatment

KW - response surface methodology (RSM)

KW - self-pulsing discharge

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DO - 10.1002/ppap.202400155

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85204773957

SN - 1612-8850

VL - 22

JO - Plasma Processes and Polymers

JF - Plasma Processes and Polymers

IS - 1

M1 - 2400155

ER -

Application of Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization of Operating Conditions of a Self-Pulsing Discharge (SPD) Plasma Reactor for the Degradation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Water

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

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