Toluene decomposition in a non-equilibrium plasma

A series of experiments were performed in a non-equilibrium plasma reactor to remove toluene from a gaseous influent at room temperature and atmospheric pressure by decomposition due to dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). We studied the decomposition efficiency of toluene and the output of ozone under different electric field strengths, influent flow rates, influent toluene concentrations and packing materials. Decomposition efficiency of toluene and output of ozone increased with increasing voltage and/or influent flow rate, but decreased with a rise in influent toluene concentration. Placing packing materials in the plasma reactor improved the toluene decomposition efficiency and packing materials containing catalysts resulted in greater enhancement of decomposition efficiency. More ozone was produced in the reactor with catalyst-containing packings and high voltages, up to 13 kVcm-1. The mechanism of toluene decomposition due to plasma and catalyst actions is proposed. Toluene decomposition efficiency in the influent (electric field strength = 14 kVcm-1, flow rate = 0.3 m3·cm-1, toluene concentration = 600 mgL-1) was up to 95% in the plasma with catalyst-containing packing material.