Decomposition of Methylene Blue Adsorbed on Zeolite by Dielectric Barrier Discharge

Abstract

In this study, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) was used to decompose methylene blue (MB) adsorbed on pellet-shaped zeolite, and zeolite was reused as an adsorbent. The DBD treatment was performed in air under atmospheric pressure. The effect of plasma treatment on the zeolite structure was investigated. The effect of DBD treatment was evaluated by the amount of MB adsorbed on the zeolite and the Total organic carbon (TOC) of the solution in the repeated adsorption test. When the plasma-treated zeolite was added to pure water, some substances desorbed from the zeolite, and as a result of NMR analysis, it was found that the substance does not have a benzene ring structure. The results showed that the methylene blue adsorbed on the zeolite was decomposed into a low molecule without a benzene ring by the DBD treatment, and it was desorbed during the next adsorption cycle, so that the adsorption site was recovered while maintaining the structure of the zeolite.