Promise of nonthermal plasmas in addressing emerging environmental and health problems: Present and future
- 1 June 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by AIP Publishing in Physics of Plasmas
- Vol. 29 (6)
- https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0083766
Abstract
Nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasmas transform input electrical energy efficiently into reactive species, charged particles, and photons. This "activated gas " is being investigated as solutions for a range of environmental and health problems facing society today. In this Perspective, we take a cursory look at a few of these societal problems and the reflected role that plasmas may play in charting the pathway to a solution buoyed by supporting research. Here, we survey the plasma-based opportunities in the removal of trace contaminants in water supporting methodologies such as water reuse, which addresses scarcity and pollution, the opportunity posed by plasmas-based chemical depolymerization for plastics recycling, and the application of plasmas for food security, which includes sterilization of foodstuffs and the improvement of crop yield. Finally, we also included a short review on how plasmas may help control disease spread. In each case, the scope of the problem is presented along with the potential plasma-based solution. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.Keywords
Funding Information
- Fusion Energy Sciences (DE-SC0018058)
- National Science Foundation (1700848)
- National Science Foundation (1747739)
- Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2020-112620GB-I00)
- Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2020-114270RA-I00)
- RACER Trust (N029593)
- Anthropocene Institute
- Fusion Energy Sciences (DE-SC0022189)
This publication has 192 references indexed in Scilit:
- Global risk of pharmaceutical contamination from highly populated developing countriesChemosphere, 2015
- Decomposition of ethylene in cold storage by plasma-assisted photocatalyst process with TiO2/ACF-based photocatalyst prepared by gamma irradiationChemical Engineering Journal, 2013
- Waste Gasification by Thermal Plasma: A ReviewWaste and Biomass Valorization, 2013
- Dynamics of a guided streamer (‘plasma bullet’) in a helium jet in air at atmospheric pressureJournal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 2012
- Eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms by Atmospheric Pressure Non-Thermal PlasmaPLOS ONE, 2012
- Cold Atmospheric Air Plasma Sterilization against Spores and Other Microorganisms of Clinical InterestApplied and Environmental Microbiology, 2012
- Plastics, the environment and human health: current consensus and future trendsPhilosophical Transactions B, 2009
- Selective separation of virgin and post-consumer polymers (PET and PVC) by flotation methodWaste Management, 2009
- Sterilization and decontamination of medical instruments by low-pressure plasma discharges: application of Ar/O2/N2ternary mixtureJournal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 2009
- Evidence of Temporal Postdischarge Decontamination of Bacteria by Gliding Electric Discharges: Application to Hafnia alveiApplied and Environmental Microbiology, 2007