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J Air Waste Manag Assoc

Title:		Microwave plasma conversion of volatile organic compounds
Author(s):		Ko Y; Yang G; Chang DP; Kennedy IM;
Address:		"Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chonbuk National University, Chonju, Korea"
Journal Title:		J Air Waste Manag Assoc
Year:		2003
Volume:		53
Issue:		5
Page Number:		580 - 585
DOI:		10.1080/10473289.2003.10466191
ISSN/ISBN:		1096-2247 (Print) 1096-2247 (Linking)
Abstract:		"A microwave-induced, steam/Ar/O2, plasma 'torch' was operated at atmospheric pressure to determine the feasibility of destroying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of concern. The plasma process can be coupled with adsorbent technology by providing steam as the fluid carrier for desorbing the VOCs from an adsorbent. Hence, N2 can be excluded by using a relatively inexpensive carrier gas, and thermal formation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) is avoided in the plasma. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the technical feasibility of destroying VOCs from gas streams by using a commercially available microwave plasma torch and to examine whether significant byproducts were produced. Trichloroethene (TCE) and toluene (TOL) were added as representative VOCs of interest to a flow that contained Ar as a carrier gas in addition to O2 and steam. The O2 was necessary to ensure that undesirable byproducts were not formed in the process. Microwave power applied at 500-600 W was found to be sufficient to achieve the destruction of the test compounds, down to the detection limits of the gas chromatograph that was used in the analysis. Samples of the postmicrowave gases were collected on sorbent tubes for the analysis of dioxins and other byproducts. No hazardous byproducts were detected when sufficient O2 was added to the flow. The destruction efficiency at a fixed microwave power improved with the addition of steam to the flow that passed through the torch"
Keywords:		Adsorption Air Pollution/*prevention & control *Microwaves Organic Chemicals Pressure Solvents/*chemistry Volatilization;
Notes:		"MedlineKo, Youngsam Yang, Gosu Chang, Daniel P Y Kennedy, Ian M eng 5P42ES04699/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 2003/05/31 J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2003 May; 53(5):580-5. doi: 10.1080/10473289.2003.10466191"