A new hybrid technique for the volatile organic compounds removal by combined use of electron beams, microwaves and catalysts

A new hybrid technique for the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) removal, based on combined use of electron beam (EB) induced non-thermal plasma (NTP), microwave (MW) induced NTP and catalytic oxidation, named "EB + MW-plasma catalysis", is presented. The catalyst is introduced into the irradiation zone, i.e. into the MW reactor and EB reactor. Our work combined the features of three techniques used for VOCs removal, i.e. the very high efficiency of EB in converting VOCs to intermediate products (IP) by OH radical reactions, the ability of MW to produce NTP in electrodeless reaction vessels, and the important role of catalysts in the complete oxidation of the IP to CO2 and H2O. The EB + MW-catalysis improved both decomposition efficiency (Ed) and oxidation efficiency (Eo). Ed and Eo were, respectively, as follows for toluene: 59.5% and 82.2% for the MW-plasma catalysis, 77.2% and 87.1 % for the EB-plasma catalysis and 92.8% and 90.5% for the EB + MW-plasma catalysis. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.