Plasma degradation of trichloroethylene: process optimization and reaction mechanism analysis

Abstract

In this study, a multi-pin-to-plate negative glow discharge reactor was employed to degrade the hazardous compound, trichloroethylene (TCE). The response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to examine the influences of various process factors (relative humidity (RH), gas flow rate, and discharge power) on the TCE decomposition process, with regard to the TCE removal efficiency, CO2 and CO selectivities. The variance analysis was used to estimate the significance of the single process factors and their interactions. It has been proved that the discharge power had the utmost influential impact on the TCE removal efficiency, CO2 and CO selectivities, subsequently the gas flow rate, and finally RH. Under the optimal conditions with 20.83% RH, 2 W discharge power and 0.5 L·min–1 gas flow rate, the optimal TCE removal efficiency (86.05%), CO2 selectivity (8.62%), and CO selectivity (15.14%) were achieved. In addition, a possible TCE decomposition pathway was proposed based on the investigation of byproducts identified in the exhaust gas of the NTP reactor. This work paves a way for the control of chlorinated volatile organic compounds.

Synergistic activation of persulfate by a manganese cobalt oxide/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite with enhanced degradation of trichloroethylene

“…It can be inferred from the report that the degradation path of TCE may be to break the double bond through addition reaction to generate chloroform (CHCl 3 ), then dechlorinate to form dichloromethane (CH 2 Cl 2 ), 44 and nally mineralize to H 2 O and CO 2 . 45,46 The degradation path is shown in Fig. 10.…”

A critical review on plasma-catalytic removal of VOCs: Catalyst development, process parameters and synergetic reaction mechanism

“…The reaction mechanism of VOCs in plasma has been explored to give a guideline for the design of suitable plasma reactors for VOCs abatement. According to literature (Chang et al, 2022;Dębek et al, 2019;Van Durme et al, 2008;Zhang et al, 2017), the possible physicochemical reaction pathway for the abatement of VOCs in the NTP system proceeds through three steps (Fig. 4), which are as follows:…”