Control of VOC decomposition behavior in air with silent discharge plasma and catalysts

Silent discharge plasma (SDP) reactors have been used as ozonizers, but ozone cannot act as a strong oxidant for the oxidative decomposition of VOC in nonthermal plasma media. The oxidative decomposition of nonhalogenated VOC is promoted by the synergism of ozone and a metal oxide catalyst. When 100 ppm of benzene in dry air was decomposed in a SDP reactor at 0.72 sec residence time, benzene conversion was 16% with 398 ppm of ozone as byproduct. When this gas was passed through a MnO₂ pellet layer, benzene conversion was improved to 71% with no ozone present. Free oxygen atoms and/or some oxenoid species formed on the MnO₂ surface were responsible for benzene oxidation. This paper will discuss the applicability of this reaction system and catalytic effects of metal oxides in VOC removal. Original is an abstract.