Nonthermal plasma processing for dilute VOCs decomposition

The performance of nonthermal plasma processing for dilute (100 or 1000 ppm) trichloroethylene (TCE) decomposition in air was investigated in combination with titania (TiO/sub 2/) catalysts. One type of catalyst consisted of 2-3-mm-diameter spherical titania pellets coated with vanadium oxide, V/sub 2/O/sub 5/. Homemade various-sized titania pellets sintered at 400/spl deg/C and 1000/spl deg/C were also tested. Gas chromatograph mass spectrometer analysis of the plasma-processed gas suggested that the catalyst was effective in enhancing TCE-decomposing energy efficiency, but the catalyst caused the generation of some byproducts. These results indicate that the size and surface state of the catalytic particulates were very important in determining the barrier discharge mode, and the energy efficiency of the plasma process was strongly dependent on the discharge mode.