Nonthermal plasma: An emerging innovative technology for the efficient removal of cooking fumes

Cooking fumes (CFs) pose a considerable threat to the atmospheric environment and health, thus requiring appropriate mitigation measures. In this study, a nonthermal plasma (NTP) method based on a glass-bead packed-bed dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor was used to remove CFs. The results revealed that the introduction of glass beads into the DBD reactor considerably enhanced the electrical field, resulting in the marked improvement of the removal of CFs. At a discharge power of 7.4 W, the removal efficiencies of CFs, nonmethane hydrocarbons, and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <= 10 mu m (PM10) reached 89.5%, 98%, and 79%, respectively. Moreover, a high COx yield of 25.3% and an energy yield of COx of 41.19 g.kWh(-1) were achieved due to the oxidation of carbon-containing compounds. The use of air as the carrier gas resulted in the more efficient removal of CFs compared with the use of nitrogen because of the oxidation effect of active oxygen-containing species derived from the dissociation of oxygen molecules. The performance of the glass-bead-packed-bed DBD reactor was positively correlated with discharge power. Furthermore, on the basis of the identification of byproducts, a reaction pathway underlying the NTP removal of CFs was proposed. The main carbon-containing compounds identified in CFs were esters, hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones, and S/Cl-containing compounds, which underwent destruction through a series of dissociation and oxidation reactions, forming CO2 and H2O in the plasma region. This study provides evidence for the use of NTP as an innovative technology for the highly efficient removal of CFs.