Simultaneous removal of toluene and chlorobenzene in a nonthermal plasma-catalysis reactor packed with Fe1-Mn1/γ-Al2O3

Abstract

Toluene and chlorobenzene are the representative aromatic VOCs and chlorinated VOCs coexisted in the exhaust gases. In this study, the removal of the single pollutant (toluene or chlorobenzene) and the multipollutants (toluene and chlorobenzene) were studied in a nonthermal plasma reactor packed with Fe 1 –Mn 1 /γ-Al 2 O 3 . Meanwhile, the toxic by-products, reaction kinetic and degradation pathway were also discussed. The results indicated that the multipollutants removal had a negative impact on toluene and chlorobenzene conversion. Meanwhile, O 3 and NOx generated from simultaneous removal were also higher than that obtained from single pollutant (toluene or chlorobenzene) removal in the nonthermal plasma reactor packed with the Fe 1 –Mn 1 /γ-Al 2 O 3 . The reaction rates for toluene or chlorobenzene removal were 0.00168 s −1 and 0.00134 s −1 , respectively. While the reaction rates of toluene and chlorobenzene during the simultaneous removal were respectively reduced to 0.00111 s −1 and 0.00099 s −1 due to the interaction between toluene and chlorobenzene. Finally, the possible removal pathway of simultaneous removal of toluene and chlorobenzene in the plasma reactor coupled with Fe 1 –Mn 1 /γ-Al 2 O 3 was also proposed based on the organic intermediates identified by GC/MS. • Simultaneous removal had negative impact on conversion. • Interaction between toluene and chlorobenzene reduced the reaction rates. • Ethylacetate was the main organic byproducts in a plasma-catalysis sysytem. • The simultaneous removal route in a plasma-catalysis system was proposed.