We investigated the production of highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) in solutions undergoing treatment using CaviPlasma (CP) technology. This technology combines plasma discharge with hydrodynamic cavitation. This study focused on factors such as pH, conductivity, presence of salts and organic matter affecting ROS formation and their stability in solutions. Depending on the used matrix, CP produces 450-580 µg L-1 s-1 of hydrogen peroxide and 1.9 µg L-1 s-1 of hydroxyl radicals dissolved in liquid. Using cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins as example, we proved that CP technology is a highly efficient method for destroying microorganisms and persistent toxins. The biocidal effect of the CP treatment was confirmed on two species of cyanobacteria, Synechococcus elongatus and Merismopedia minutissima. The effectiveness of the technology in degrading microcystins was also demonstrated. The potential of this technology is based on its high energy efficiency, G(H2O2) ≈ 10 g kWh-1 and G(O3) ≈ 0.03 g kWh-1 (in deionised water), realistic applicability with throughput rates (> 1 m3 h-1), and comparatively easy scalability system.

5 Kaplan Department Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Brno University of Technology Technická 2896 2 616 69 Brno Czech Republic

Central European Institute of Technology Brno University of Technology Purkyňova123 612 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Experimental Phycology and Ecotoxicology Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Lidická 25 27 602 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Plasma Physics and Technology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kotlářská 267 2 611 37 Brno Czech Republic

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