Glow discharge plasma in water: A green approach to enhancing ability of chitosan for dye removal

► The glow discharge plasma approach was applied to enhance the adsorption ability of chitosan for dye removal. ► Dye uptake on plasma modified chitosan was a faster process than adsorption on untreated chitosan. ► The plasma modification of chitosan could improve the adsorption of both acid and reactive dyes to varying degrees. ► This technically feasible, highly efficient and cost effective glow discharge plasma is a suitable pretreatment method for environmental adsorption materials.