Cold plasma isn’t just for sterilisation, but offers potential as a sustainable water treatment that can target stubborn contaminants like biofilms and pharmaceuticals, according to a new review.
The review, ‘Cold Plasma for Enhanced Water Purification’ appears in Sustainable Microbiology, an Applied Microbiology International publication.
Corresponding author and AMI Horizon Award winner Dr Thomas Thompson of Queen’s University Belfast says cold atmospheric plasma shows potential for water purification that could tackle some of the most stubborn contaminants we face that existing methods often can’t remove.
Global issue
“Clean water access is a massive global issue. Right now, about 785 million people don’t have reliable access to clean drinking water, and two billion people use water contaminated with faecal matter, leading to severe health risks like diarrheal diseases,” he says.
“Traditional water treatments struggle to eliminate stubborn pollutants like pharmaceuticals, dyes, and antibiotics, which build up in the environment and drive antibiotic resistance. We need solutions beyond more chemicals, and cold plasma offers a cleaner, innovative path forward.”
Most water treatment methods rely on energy-intensive processes and chemicals that aren’t fully effective against resistant pollutants. Cold plasma changes this by generating reactive oxygen and nitrogen species at room temperature, which can break down even complex organic pollutants without adding more chemicals. The technique shows promise where other methods fall short, especially in tackling biofilms and contaminants that lead to antibiotic resistance.
Flexible tool
”This review brings together evidence that cold plasma isn’t just for sterilisation; it’s a flexible tool that could be key in sustainable water treatment. Cold plasma offers an efficient way to target complex biofilms and chemical pollutants, giving us a new perspective on how to approach water sanitation both biologically and chemically,” Dr Thompson says.
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“Imagine a water treatment system that doesn’t just clean but also eliminates antibiotic-resistant bacteria, complex chemicals, and biofilms—all while reducing environmental impact. That’s the potential of cold plasma. It directly supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), like SDG 6 for clean water and SDG 3 for health, by making water safer and cleaner without the added burden of harmful by-products.
“But to make cold plasma a standard tool in water treatment, we need to improve its energy efficiency, scale it for large operations, and make it affordable. The goal is to bridge the gap between lab success and real-world practicality—showing it can work effectively and sustainably on a large scale.”
Dr Thompson led the review, working closely with Jordanne-Amee Maybin and Laura McClenaghan, and received invaluable guidance from Prof Brendan Gilmore at Queen’s University Belfast.
The review, ‘Cold Plasma for Enhanced Water Purification’ is published in Sustainable Microbiology.
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