Remediation Efficiency and Influencing Factors of PAHs‐Contaminated Soil by a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor: DBD System Parameters, Soil Characteristics, and Microbial Properties

ABSTRACT The efficiency and influencing factors during PAH‐polluted soil remediation by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) low‐temperature plasma technology are investigated in this study. Gas chromatography, microbial community structure analysis, and response surface analysis were used to optimize suitable remediation processing factors. The degradation rates of phenanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene reached 94.37% and 86.53%, respectively, at an initial concentration of 100.00 mg/kg, whereas optimal parameters for the system were identified as 130 V for voltage, 160 Hz for frequency, 0.60 L/min for gas flow rate, and 40 min for discharge time. Comprehensively, DBD plasma is an efficient, low‐energy, and sustainable remediation technology according to the energy consumption calculation and comparison with the relevant literature.