Plasma-Assisted Regeneration of Activated Carbon: Current Status and Prospects

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Activated carbon (AC) is widely used in pollution control, but it faces significant challenges in regeneration due to secondary pollution and structural degradation. Traditional methods, such as thermal and chemical regeneration, are energy-intensive and inefficient. Plasma-based regeneration, which includes high-voltage pulsed discharge and dielectric barrier discharge, provides an effective approach for restoring AC adsorption capacity with minimal environmental impact. While plasma techniques risk damaging AC’s porous structure, recent advances demonstrate their potential for efficient regeneration at lower energy costs. This review examines plasma-driven regeneration processes, focusing on optimizing reactivity control to maintain AC structural integrity while achieving high regeneration performance. The analysis highlights key mechanisms and operational parameters that influence plasma regeneration efficiency.