Microwave Torch Plasmas for Decomposition of Gaseous Pollutants

Abstract

AbstractResults of the study of decomposition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs including Freons) in their mixtures with either synthetic air or nitrogen, and nitrogen oxides NOx in their mixtures with N2 or Ar in low (~ 100 W) and moderate-power (200-400 W) microwave torch plasmas at atmospheric pressure are presented. Three types of microwave torch discharge (MTD) generators, i.e. the low-power coaxial-line-based MID, the moderate-power waveguide-based coaxial-line MTD and the moderate-power waveguide-based MTD generators were used. The gas flow rate and microwave power (2.45 GHz) delivered to the discharge were in the range of 1÷3 l/min and 100÷ 400 W, respectively. Concentrations of the processed gaseous pollutants usually were from several up to several tens percent. The energy efficiency of decomposition of several gaseous pollutants reached 1000 g/kWh. It was found that the microwave torch plasmas fully decomposed the pollutants at relatively low energy cost. This suggests that the MTD plasma can be a useful tool for decomposition of highly-concentrated gaseous pollutants.