Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Remediation of Diuron-Contaminated Soil: Degradation Pathways and Toxicity Analysis Under Different Gas Conditions

As industrialization advances, pesticide contamination in soil has raised global concern. Nonthermal plasma technology shows promise for soil pesticide remediation. However, degradation pathways and toxicity under different gas conditions are not well studied. This research investigated the use of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma for degrading diuron in soil. The choice of working gas had a significant impact on diuron degradation. Pathways varied under different gas atmospheres. Toxicity simulation showed that prolonged plasma treatment reduces the aquatic toxicity of degradation intermediates. This study highlights DBD plasma's potential for remediating diuron-contaminated soil under various gas conditions.