Microwave Plasma Conversion of Volatile Organic Compounds

Abstract

A microwave-induced, steam/Ar/O 2 , plasma "torch" was operated at atmospheric pressure to determine the feasibility of destroying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of concern. The plasma process can be coupled with adsorbent technology by providing steam as the fluid carrier for desorbing the VOCs from an adsorbent. Hence, N 2 can be excluded by using a relatively inexpensive carrier gas, and thermal formation of oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) is avoided in the plasma.

Application of microwave air plasma in the destruction of trichloroethylene and carbon tetrachloride at atmospheric pressure

“…Ko et al [31] obtained an operating cost of approximately $35/kg for the destruction of C 2 HCl 3 with a microwave argon plasma torch. Moreover, a report by Agnihotri et al [32] estimated that the cost of a non-thermal dielectric-barrier discharge plasma with a humid air stream (88% relative humidity) was approximately $20/kg-trichloroethane.…”

Characterization of an Atmospheric-Pressure Argon Plasma Generated by 915 MHz Microwaves Using Optical Emission Spectroscopy

“…The atmospheric-pressure microwave plasma sources (MPSs) found many different physical and technical applications such as decomposition of gaseous pollutants [1][2][3][4], deposition thin layers in nanosensors [5,6], medicine for bacteria inactivation [7], and production of hydrogen via conversion of hydrocarbons or other hydrogen carriers [8][9][10][11][12].…”

Comparison of Reforming Behaviors of Hexane and Isooctane in Microwave Steam Plasma

“…Compared with equilibrium plasma, non-equilibrium plasma has an advantage for the hydrocarbon reforming system because it prevents excess heating of the contained gases. Since there are no electrodes, there is no plasma contamination and the discharge tube can use a simple design 13) . Microwave plasma has different characteristics from other nonequilibrium plasmas generated by dielectric barrier discharge and similar discharges.…”