Evaluation of the Biological Efficiency of Water Disinfection Using High-Frequency Electrical Discharge
Almuratova N. Dyussenbiyeva A. Zharkymbekova M. Nurmadiyeva E. Kystaubayev N. Abdykadyrov A.
December 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Water (Switzerland)
2025#17Issue 24
The object of this research is the process of water disinfection by means of high-frequency electrical discharge. The study addresses the problem of achieving high biological efficiency while reducing energy consumption and avoiding harmful by-products typical of traditional methods such as chlorination or UV irradiation. As a result, a comprehensive theoretical and experimental investigation was conducted, demonstrating that within 20 s of plasma exposure, E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa bacteria were inactivated by 99.2–99.9%. The observed efficiency is explained by the synergistic action of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (•OH, O3, H2O2, NO2−, NO3−) formed in the plasma–water interface. The distinctive features of the obtained results include the establishment of optimal operating parameters-voltage U = 12–18 kV, frequency f ≈ 35 kHz, and gap distance d = 15 mm—under which the normalized specific energy input (SEI) was 6–9 kWh per cubic meter of water. This value represents the standard normalization used for plasma-based treatment systems, where the electrical energy delivered to the reactor is divided by the treated volume (1.0 L in our setup) and scaled to m3 for comparison with other studies, 30–40% lower than in previously reported plasma systems. The validated physicochemical model (Poisson, Navier–Stokes, and continuity equations) matched experimental data with R2 ≥ 0.95, confirming its predictive capability for further scale-up. The practical significance of the results lies in the potential application of this method for decentralized and industrial water treatment systems. The reagent-free, energy-efficient, and environmentally safe nature of the proposed approach makes it suitable for sustainable water purification under real operating conditions.
energy efficiency , high-frequency electrical discharge , hydrogen peroxide , ozone , physicochemical model , plasma–liquid interaction , reactive species , water disinfection
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Department of EMED, Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications Named After Gumarbek Daukeyev, Almaty, 050013, Kazakhstan
Department of Life Safety and Environmental Protection, M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University, Shymkent, 160012, Kazakhstan
Department of Electronics, Telecommunications and Space Technologies, Satbayev University, Almaty, 050013, Kazakhstan
Department of EMED
Department of Life Safety and Environmental Protection
Department of Electronics
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