Decomposition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid using He-Ar-O2 dielectric barrier discharge

DBD generated by mid-frequency AC (30 kHz) at atmospheric pressure was used for the degradation of EDTA in aqueous solution. The concentration of EDTA was measured by HPLC and TOC analysis. More than 90% of EDTA (initial concentration of 0.2 wt.-%) was decomposed by DBD degradation, and the TOC content was reduced to below 60% of the initial value within one hour. The reaction was faster at high plasma generation voltages. At an applied voltage of 14 kV, 50% of EDTA was degraded by DBD degradation in only 10 min.