Removal of N,N-dimethylformamide by dielectric barrier discharge plasma combine with manganese activated carbon.

Manganese activated carbon (Mn-AC) was successfully prepared by the incipient wetness method and characterized by SEM, XRD, and FTIR. This study chose N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as the target pollutant, and the removal rate of DMF and removal mechanism were systematically studied by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma combined with Mn-AC. This study indicated that DBD plasma combined with Mn-AC could effectively remove DMF. With the addition of Mn-AC, the removal rate and mineralization rate of DMF within 40 min increased from 51.5% and 36.0% to 82.2% and 58.2%, respectively. The discharge power, initial concentration of DMF, initial pH of the solution, and dosage of Mn-AC affect the removal of DMF. The optimal discharge power is 16.19 W, and energy efficiency is 20.79 mg·kJ-1; low concentration DMF could be removed more effectively. Neutral and alkaline conditions showed better removal effect of DMF than acid conditions; Mn-AC optimal dosage is 1.0 g L-1. The concentration variations of O3, H2O2, and ·OH manifested that Mn-AC could effectively convert O3 and H2O2 to ·OH, thereby increasing the DMF removal rate. Quenching experiments showed that ·OH is the main active species in the reaction. Based on reaction products of DMF such as N-methylformamide, methanol, formaldehyde, and formic acid, possible degradation pathways were proposed. Prospect analysis demonstrated combining plasma systems with catalysts is promising.