Enhanced Inactivation of Fungi and Bacteria in Tap Water by Gliding Arc Discharge Plasma in Air Combined with CO₂ Bubbling in water

This study evaluated an air-operated Gliding Arc Discharge (GAD) plasma system for disinfecting tap water contaminated with Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, and multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli, with simultaneous CO₂ bubbling. CO₂ significantly enhanced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species generation, lowered pH, and improved microbial inactivation efficiency. Plasma treatment also restored susceptibility of MDR E. coli to several antibiotics and caused severe structural damage to microbial cells. A post-treatment filtration system successfully restored water quality to potable standards. Overall, the GAD–CO₂ system represents a promising and scalable approach for efficient decentralized water disinfection.