Abstract

The study explores the effectiveness of plasma washing as an environmentally sustainable method for fabric stain removal. Utilizing a dielectric barrier discharge pencil plasma jet (DBD-PPJ) with air as the plasma-forming gas, we assessed its stain removal efficacy on various stains (ink, turmeric, mud/soil, grass, coffee, and oil) on white cotton fabric. Results indicate that plasma washing efficiently removes stains, with increased detergency over time. The process generates numerous aqueous species/radicals such as O, O<inf>2</inf>·, OH, H<inf>2</inf>O<inf>2</inf>, ONOOˉ, and dissolved O<inf>3</inf>, etc. contributing to the washing action. Fabric sensory properties (smell, touch, appearance, etc.) and absorption (UV-visible analysis) notably improved with plasma washing, except for oil stain removal. Surface (FTIR) and morphology (HR-SEM) analysis revealed no fabric surface modification or damage post-plasma washing. Furthermore, residual wastewater from plasma washing is devoid of dissolved stain residues, indicating successful degradation by oxidizing species. The study emphasizes the holistic environmental benefits of plasma washing in addressing both stain removal and wastewater purification. In conclusion, our findings support the proposition that plasma washing is a promising and sustainable alternative for fabric care.