Chiagozie Mary Chukwukwute
Experimental Investigation of The Roles of Plasma Non-Oxidative Species in Plasma Water
Treatment.
Abstract:
Plasma is formed when an electric field is applied to a gas, generating species such as electrons,
ions, radicals, metastables, and photons. This technology has found application in different fields
of science and recent studies on plasma-liquid interactions have demonstrated that plasma is
capable of degrading poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)— a class of toxic, fluorinated,
and persistent environmental pollutants used in industrial and consumer products.
While plasma can fully mineralize PFAS, the specific conditions required, and key reactive species
responsible remain unclear. My PhD research proposes a comparative analysis of multiple plasma
sources to assess variations in plasma properties such as electron density, photon flux, and reactive
species generation to investigate plasma-assisted PFAS degradation.
Wednesday, 04/02/2025 at 10 am
CAMP 250
Advisor:
Professor Selma Mededovic
Other committee members:
Professor Thomas Holsen
Professor Kim Taeyoung
Professor Jihoon Seo
Professor Ian McCrum.