Processes in spark electric discharge in air, nitrogen and oxygen

I M Piskarev,N A Aristova

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/966/1/012100

Abstract

The yield of redox reactions in aqueous solutions under the action of a remote spark discharge in the air, nitrogen and oxygen was studied. Mohr’s salt and potassium permanganate were used as test substances. The direct and indirect effects of a source of active particles were compared. On direct exposure active species can immediately interact with the substance. By indirect action the source of active species directly affects only water. Immediately after treatment water was mixed with a solution of the test substance and the reactions of accumulated active species with the test substance began. When discharged in air medium, the oxidation and reduction reaction yields are approximately the same 5 - 6 1(100 эВ)−1 eV. Equal yields means that active species are firstly produced in water. When discharged in the nitrogen and oxygen medium, the oxidation yield is ∼15% lower, and the recovery yield is much lower. In this case, there is oxygen or nitrogen in the aqueous solution, so nitrogen oxides cannot be formed in water. So the contribution of products, produced in the discharge region is not more than 15% and that radiation plays a major role in initiating of chemical processes in liquid.

Highlights

Cold plasma and plasma activated water (PAW) have great prospects for their wide application and are intensively researched [1, 2]
The plasma used for this treatment has dim light, so the role of radiation in the formation of PAW is considered to be insignificant
It is noted that this effect is due to nitrogen oxides, but the mechanism of their formation and the role of the gas medium were not considered

Summary

Introduction

Cold plasma and plasma activated water (PAW) have great prospects for their wide application and are intensively researched [1, 2]. The formation of hydrogen peroxide under the action of light radiation in water containing dissolved nitrogen and oxygen was experimentally found in work [9]. Studies [11, 12] established a strong chemical effect created in water and aqueous solutions by a spark electric discharge generator in air.

Results

Conclusion