Conversion of Carbon Disulfide in Pulsed Corona Discharge Plasma

Investigations of carbon disulfide CS2 conversion in atmospheric-pressure gas mixtures processed by pulsed corona discharge of nanosecond duration were carried out. The main intermediate products of CS2 conversion are sulfur dioxide SO2 and carbonyl sulfide COS. As well as carbon disulfide, these intermediate products are toxic and thus have to be removed from the gas mixture. The final products of conversion are carbon dioxide CO2 and sulfuric acid H2SO4. CO2 is not toxic and may be released into the atmosphere. H2SO4 is deposited on the walls of reaction chamber in a droplet form. By addition of ammonia, sulfuric acid is converted into powdery ammonium sulfate that may be subsequently extracted by various filters and used as a fertilizer. It was shown that the energy yield of conversion in pulsed corona discharge is significantly higher than in the case of corona discharge at constant voltage and other types of discharges. It turned out that in most cases, there is no need to add oxygen and water to the processed gas mixture for its efficient cleaning. The experiments demonstrated that corona discharge pulse repetition rate should be determined only by flow rate of gas mixture being processed and by the necessary extent of toxic substances removal at the outlet of reaction chamber. It was shown that the mechanism of plasma-chemical and chemical reactions of carbon disulfide conversion is generally the same for plasma produced by electron beam, by non-selfsustained discharge and by corona discharge. The difference lies in the values of active particles concentrations in plasma.