Destruction of VOCs by combination of corona discharge and catalysis techniques

The catalytic effect of alumina on the destruction of toluene, benzene, acetone and methanol, in DC pulsed corona discharge reactor was studied. In the presence of alumina the inlet concentration of the VOCs was varied from ～5×10^-6mol/L to ～80×10^-6mol/L, and their decomposition efficiency (conversion %) was found to be 99%—80% for toluene, 99%—97% for benzene, 95%—92% for acetone, and 72%—85% for methanol. Corresponding decomposition in the absence of alumina was 90%—38% for toluene, 89%—57% for benzene, 42%—30% for acetone, and 47%—19% for methanol. Feed gas flow rate was 400 cm³/min and power reading from DC source was 7.4 W in all of the experiments. Alumina also shifted the CO/CO₂ ratio in the by products in favor of CO₂. Ozone concentration at the reactor outlet was higher in the presence of alumina. Enhancement in VOCs decomposition by alumina was explained on the basis of higher concentration of ozone and its precursor atomic oxygen O] . Decomposition efficiency (conversion %) for individual compounds was found to be inversely proportional to the ionization potential of the compound, under identical conditions. Double DC high voltage sources pulse generator was tested and found to improve VOCs decomposition compared with the conventional single DC high voltage source. 