Treatment of aniline contaminated water by a self‐designed dielectric barrier discharge reactor coupling with micro‐bubbles: optimization of the system and effects of water matrix

BACKGROUND A self‐designed dielectric barrier discharge reactor coupling with micro‐bubbles (DBD/MB) system is proposed as a promising method to remove aniline in waste water. The optimum geometric dimensions of the reactor and the operating parameters of the DBD/MB system as well as the influence of the water matrix (including cations, anions, and coexisting organics) were investigated. The functional mechanisms of the DBD/MB system were explored. RESULTS By setting the double‐dielectric barrier discharge reactor (DDBD) with electrode gap as 5 mm, discharge voltage as 50 kV, and air intake flow of the MB generator as 40 mL min −1 , the aniline removal efficiency reached 82% within an hour. The removal efficiency could be promoted by the presence of metal ions (Cu 2+ , Fe 2+ and Mn 2+ ), while it was also found that with the presence of certain anions (CO 3 2− , Cl − , NO 3 − and SO 4 2− ), the degradation process was inhibited by more than 40%. The coexisting organics did not influence aniline removal. Active species (•OH, H 2 O 2 and O 3 ) generated in the DDBD/MB treatment and micro‐bubbles played important roles in the aniline degradation process. CONCLUSIONS This study provides fundamental information for the application of a DDBD/MB system to effectively remove aniline from water. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry