The Destruction of Carbon Tetrachloride Dissolved in Water in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge in Oxygen

Abstract

The kinetics of decomposition of tetrachloromethane (TCM) in its aqueous solutions and the kinetics of decomposition products formation was investigated under the action of DBD at atmospheric pressure in oxygen in a falling-flow reactor. The range of initial concentrations of TCM was 25–325 μmol/l, the discharge power—2–11 W and O2 flow rates—1–3 cm3/s. It is shown that the kinetics of the TCM decomposition can be described by the equation of pseudo-first kinetic order. The rate constant depended weakly on the discharge parameters and was ~ 5 s−1. The energy efficiency of the decomposition, depending on the parameters, was 0.1–1.3 molecules per 100 eV. When the residence time of the solution with the discharge zone is more than 1 s, it is possible to achieve almost 100% degree of TCM decomposition. It is shown that the main products of the TCM decomposition in the liquid phase are aldehydes and Cl− ions, and in the gas phase—the molecules CO and CO2. The results for energy efficiency are compared with the results obtained in other AOP’s processes (Fenton process, photocatalytic process, the radiation process by the action of high-energy electron flux). It is shown that the action of the DBD is more effective than the action of the above processes.