Non-Thermal Plasma Decomposition of Dilute Trichloroethylene in Air - Catalyst Effect

High pressure non-thermal plasma decomposition performance for low density, typically 250 ppm, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mostly trichloroethylene, in synthesized air was examined for various conditions. In order to improve the VOCs decomposition energy efficiency of the plasma reactor, new manganese-dioxide supported alumina spheres were examined, where that catalyst works well to decompose the plasma-produced ozone even at the room temperature. At that ozone decomposition process in the catalyst, the trichloroethylene (TCE) was also oxidized very well. Although the specific energy density (SED: input discharge energy, Joule per 1 litter gas) was rather small, the TCE decomposition efficiency was more than 99 % at some conditions. Still now, the optimal amount of the catalyst was not yet determined. Increasing effect of the catalyst amount was examined concerned with the byproduct behaviour.