Study of volatile organic compound destruction by dielectric barrier corona discharge

Book · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:175906

Krasnoperov, L N; Krishtopa, L G; Bozzelli, J W ^[1]

---

1. New Jersey Inst. of Tech., Newark, NJ (United States). Dept. of Chemistry

Destruction of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in air by low energy corona discharge is a promising low cost technology for reduction of low level VOC`s in effluent stacks. Kinetics of destruction, reaction products and electrical power requirements are determined. Experiments were performed using flow tubular coaxial wire AC-powered corona discharge reactors with capacitance coupling over the range 0--90 W of active power. Reactants (mixture of VOC`s with zero air, nitrogen or helium, 5--100,000 ppm, VOCs: Methane, Methyl Chloride, Chlorobenzene, Toluene, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, 1-Pentene and Cyclohexene) and reaction products (CO, CO{sub 2}, and intermediate hydrocarbons) were monitored by gas chromatography (FID). Destruction efficiency and stable products spectrum were studied as a function of power, contact time and reactor dimensions. Very high efficiency of VOCs destruction/removal has been demonstrated (energy required for destruction is 0.001--0.1 J/cm{sup 3}). Additional experiments aimed toward scaling design have been performed using a manifold of 61 discharge tubes of (17.5 cm long, 0.5 cm I.D.). This compact manifold (10 x 10 x 25 cm) is capable of treating air flows up to 13 m{sup 3}/hour with only 22 W of electric power consumed (99.5% destruction of 7 ppm cyclohexene). Plausible mechanisms of destruction are considered and compared with the experimental data.

• OSTI ID: 175906
• Report Number(s): CONF-9510125--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CORONA DISCHARGES
CYCLOALKENES
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUE GAS
KETONES
METHANE
METHYL CHLORIDE
PENTENES
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TOLUENE