Ambitious proponents of plasma-based treatment are looking to supercharge the world of advanced oxidation processes, amid a landscape of tightening emerging contaminant regulations and rising industrial waste disposal costs. Harnessing the properties of ionised gas, this powerful oxidation/reduction method offers the enticing potential to break down and potentially fully mineralise tough-to-treat contaminants - something that has not been achieved thus far. Technology providers are hoping to compete with other oxidation processes and thermal treatments such as incineration, depending on the required application. While plasma oxidation providers face challenges in finding the right niches to initially deploy the technology (see figure, right) and then scale it up, promising markets may be found in the realms of emerging contaminant remediation and industrial process water or wastewater treatment. A key focus for some providers has been the treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, where the technology has shown promising treatment results. As of yet, the market is fragmented and characterised by start-ups and early-stage technology developments, but many innovations have also been logged in patent applications from research organisations and occasionally from larger water technology giants. While a handful of companies are now piloting solutions and establishing their first commercial installations, whether plasma is adopted at a meaningful scale over the next five years will depend on whether it can address pain points better than alternative oxidation methods. If plasma proves that it can fully mineralise contaminants, its advantage over currently commercialised oxidation processes in certain circumstances would be clear, and it may yet attract greater attention from technology providers hungry to broaden their solutions portfolios.
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