Advanced Treatment of Textile Industrial Effluents Using a Coupled Cold Plasma and Activated Carbon Adsorption Approach: Performance and Synergy Assessment Publisher



Nasiri F ; Saviz S ; Mafigholami R ; Hadi A ; Sheikhi S
Source: Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification Published:2026

Abstract

The treatment of textile wastewater is an ongoing environmental problem due to its high quantities of synthetic colors and refractory organic chemicals. In order to effectively remove chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color from actual textile manufacturing effluent, this study examined a hybrid treatment system that combines cold plasma oxidation with granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption. The operating parameters of both processes were optimized using response surface methods based on a central composite design. For the cold plasma stage, the optimal conditions were pH 7.6, applied voltage 25 kV, air flow rate 18.2 L/min, and reaction time 95 min, resulting in COD and color removal efficiencies of 83.8% and 85%, respectively. In the adsorption stage, maximum removal efficiencies of 88.1% for COD and 90.5% for color were achieved at pH 7.8, adsorbent dosage of 3 g/L, and contact time of 100 min. When the two processes were coupled, the hybrid system exhibited a pronounced synergistic effect, achieving 98.7% COD removal and 99.57% color removal. The hybrid plasma–adsorption process showed greater apparent rate constants than the individual procedures and a number of traditional treatment technologies documented in the literature, according to kinetic analysis. © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.