Decomposition of Trace Phenol in Solution Using Gas–Liquid Interface Discharge

Abstract

Many researchers have investigated the decomposition of trace phenol in solution using liquid-phase discharge. However, liquid-phase discharge has a problem of consuming an extremely high energy. We have investigated phenol decomposition using a gas–liquid interface discharge induced by an ultra-short width (∼600 ns) pulse of high voltage. Gas bubbling was employed to enhance both convection and the gas–liquid interface area, because chemical reactions take place mainly at the surface of a solution. A significant improvement in energy efficiency of phenol decomposition was achieved. In addition, phenol decomposition using air mixed with argon (Ar) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a bubbling gas was investigated. Phenol removal using air together with H2O2 bubbling was approximately twice as efficient as air bubbling alone, which was attributed to the increase in the amount of hydroxyl (OH) radicals.