Plasma-chemical degradation of Phtalocyanine complexes and slaughterhouse effluents

Electric discharges in humid air at atmospheric pressure generate efficient oxidizers (e.g., OH, H₂O₂, ONOOH^-) able to degrade organic matter, and to abate pollutants in aqueous solutions. Plasma treated hemoglobin (Hb) and cobalamine are completely degraded in a non-thermal gliding arc reactor: the iron center of Hb is then positive to analytical tests. The degradation follows an overall 1^st-order kinetics (k # 0.2 min^-1) after a "lag time"(or zero order step) required by pH lowering and formation of peroxynitrite (ONOOH which splits into OH and NO₂ and acts as a nitrating and oxidizing agent). The degradation of industrial blood samples requires 180 min treatment for 50% abatement (including a "lag time" close to 170 min partly attributed to the degradation of added sodium citrate as a stabilizer. pH and the circulation flow rate of the liquid sample have negligible effects on the overall kinetic rate.