High-efficient removal of Tetrabromobisphenol A in aqueous by dielectric barrier discharge: Performance and degradation pathways

Abstract Brominated flame retardants are widely used in fire protection area, but also bring great threats to ecological environment and human health. In this study, the potential of brominated flame retardant removal in wastewater by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma was investigated, with Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) as a model pollutant. The experimental results showed that TBBPA could be effectively removed by the DBD plasma oxidation. Almost all of the TBBPA in wastewater could be successfully decomposed within 15 min’s oxidation treatment, and the decomposition process fitted well with the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Relatively lower TBBPA initial concentration favored its decomposition; and the effect of solution pH value on the oxidation process was negligible in the selected pH range. Electron paramagnetic resonance analysis showed that •O2-, •OH, and 1O2 were produced in the DBD plasma process; and •O2- was the main reactive species for TBBPA decomposition, •OH and 1O2 also played important roles. The molecular structure of TBBPA was effectively destroyed, and some byproducts including bisphenol A, and dibromophenol were generated. The possible decomposition pathways for TBBPA degradation were proposed. Furthermore, the acute toxicity and bioaccumulation factor of intermediate byproducts were alleviated via the analysis of Toxicity Estimation Software Tool.