Destruction of styrene in an air stream by packed dielectric barrier discharge reactors

Abstract

This study presents the decomposition rates of styrene vapors with non-packed and packed bed dielectric barrier discharge reactors. The concentrations of intermediate byproducts at various plasma operation conditions were evaluated. The results showed that although styrene vapors could be almost completely removed at low styrene inlet concentration of 132 ppm, the selectivity of CO2 as the major product was rather low in a non-packed bed reactor. It was found that solid carbon containing compound was the major byproduct. An increase in the styrene inlet concentration tended to reduce the styrene removal efficiency, it also led to increase in the solid byproduct. The reactors that packed with glass, Al2O3 or Pt-Pd /Al2O3 pellets could improve the styrene decomposition efficiency and reduce the formation of intermediate products, of which the best oxidation of styrene to CO2 could be achieved with a Pt-Pd /Al2O3 packed bed reactor. The carbon byproducts could also be reduced if the rector length was increased. The concentrations of ozone formed during the plasma process were also evaluated for the non-packed and packed bed reactors. The plasma reactor that packed with Pt-Pd /Al2O3 pellets was proved to have the lowest O-3 concentration.