Non-thermal Plasma Assisted Destruction of Persistent Organic Contaminants in Water - A New Approach Using a Planar Falling Film Reactor
A. Mahyar1, H. Miessner1, S. Mueller1, D. Kalass1, T. Piechotta2, and D. Moeller1
1Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany
2Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
Abstract- A non-thermal plasma reactor with a dielectric barrier discharge in a planar configuration with falling liquid film has been shown to decompose effectively organic contaminants in water. The degradation of oxalic acid as an ozone resistant model compound was studied in dependence on the gas composition (air, oxygen, nitrogen, argon and corresponding mixtures). The most effective degradation was obtained with pure oxygen, whereas argon seems to be not suitable as reaction gas. An additional UV irradiation or the addition of Fe(II) accelerates the degradation of oxalic acid only in argon, probably due to the activation of H2O2 in the liquid phase. The plasma-assisted degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) as an ozone resistant fuel additive shows a significantly different behavior depending on the gas phase. In oxygen only a moderate abatement takes place, the degradation in argon is, however, very effective. The reason for these differences is discussed.
Keywords-Water treatment, dielectric barrier discharge, energy yield, non-thermal plasma