Plasma-activated water in agriculture, food safety, and healthcare
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Date
2026
Authors
Long, N.V.D.
Sengupta, S.
Zhuang, C.
Richter, K.
Hessel, V.
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Chemical Engineering Journal, 2026; 528:172535-1-172535-24
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Nguyen Van Duc Long, Sourjo Sengupta, Changping Zhuang, Katharina Richter, Volker H
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Abstract
Plasma-activated water (PAW) is an innovative, sustainable, high-performance solution generated by exposing water to cold plasma, which enriches the liquid with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). These energised molecules impart antimicrobial and functional properties, enabling PAW to play a valuable role across agriculture, food industry, and healthcare, and in this way act like a ‘performance chemical’ (i.e., specialised chemical products designed to enhance the performance of various processes across multiple industries [1]). This review highlights the science behind PAW, from how it is produced and how its reactive species behave, to its growing list of applications. Examples include boosting crops grow stronger, improving food safety, disinfecting surfaces, and even supporting medical treatments and wound care. We also explore practical questions, such as how to fine-tune the process, measure the active species, and scale production in a cost-effective way. While PAW offers large potential, challenges remain around energy efficiency, stability of its active compounds, and the need for clear regulations. By bringing together current knowledge and strategies, this review shows how PAW can be developed and applied as a practical solution to global challenges in food security, public health, and environmental sustainability
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© 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)