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Title: A system to investigate the remediation of organic vapors using microwave-induced plasma with fluidized carbon granules

Journal Article · · Review of Scientific Instruments
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3089823· OSTI ID:21266778
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. School of Applied Science, University of Huddersfield, HD1 3DH (United Kingdom)
  2. Center for Materials Science, University of Central Lancashire, PR1 2HE (United Kingdom)

This article describes a system to investigate the parameters for the remediation of organic vapors using microwave-induced plasma on fluidized carbon granules. The system is based on a single mode microwave apparatus with a variable power (2.45 GHz) generator. Carbon granules are fluidized in a silica tube situated in the sample section of a waveguide incorporating two additional ports to allow plasma intensity monitoring using a light sensor and imaging with a digital camera. A fluoroptic probe is used for in situ measurement of the carbon granule temperature, while the effluent gas temperature is measured with a thermocouple situated in the silica tube outside the cavity. Data acquisition and control software allow experiments using a variety of microwave power regimes while simultaneously recording the light intensity of any plasma generated within the carbon bed, together with its temperature. Evaluation using two different granular activated carbons and ethyl acetate, introduced as a vapor into the fluidizing air stream at a concentration of 1 ppm, yielded results which indicated that significant destruction of ethyl acetate, as monitored using a mass spectrometer, was achieved only with the carbon granules showing high plasma activity under pulsed microwave conditions. The system is therefore suitable for comparison of the relative microwave activities of various activated carbon granules and their performance in microwave remediation and regeneration.

OSTI ID:
21266778
Journal Information:
Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 80, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3089823; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English