Enhanced Rainwater Purification using Cold Plasma-Activated Hyacinth Adsorbent for Pollutant Reduction

Abstract

This purpose of research for designing a filtration system utilizing hyacinth-based adsorbents to purify rainwater. Hyacinth which an agricultural waste rich in cellulose, possesses natural adsorptive properties. This explores of plasma cold-activated hyacinth adsorbents for rainwater purification, addressing a significant gap in sustainable water treated technologies. Unlike conventional adsorbents, the activation process using cold plasma enhances the adsorbent's surface properties, increasing its efficacy in removing pollutants. A comparative analysis with traditional purification methods demonstrates the superior performance of plasma-activated hyacinth in terms of adsorption capacity and pollutant reduction efficiency. By integrating cold plasma technology with a low-cost, eco-friendly adsorbent, this approach offers a novel solution to improving rainwater quality while promoting environmental sustainability. The study examined variations in carbonization temperatures (600 °C) and evaluated the characteristics of cold plasma-treated and untreated hyacinth adsorbents. Characterization techniques included Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for surface morphology, emission intensity analysis via Optical Electron Spectroscopy to detect plasma-generated species, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify functional groups. Results showed that the plasma cold produced Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS) at wavelengths 324.768–445.289 nm, Reactive Argon Species (R-Ar-S) at 698.223–778.398 nm, and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) at 780.341–830.867 nm. SEM analysis revealed that the surface texture of untreated hyacinth adsorbents was smooth, while plasma-treated adsorbents exhibited a rougher surface, enhancing adsorptive efficiency. FTIR analysis identified functional groups such as C=C, C-C, C-N, C=O, and C-O within the range of 700–1750 nm. Rainwater purification efficiency improved significantly with plasma-treated adsorbents, as indicated by reductions in COD (16.22 mg/L), BOD (7.49 mg/L), and TDS (120.22 mg/L), compared to untreated adsorbents, which showed COD of 32.44 mg/L, BOD of 20.26 mg/L, and TDS of 180.46 mg/L. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of plasma cold-activated hyacinth adsorbents in enhancing rainwater quality.