Abatement of mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a catalytic non-thermal plasma reactor.

Total oxidation of mixture of dilute volatile organic compounds was carried out in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor with various transition metal oxide catalysts integrated in-plasma. The experimental results indicated the best removal efficiencies in the presence of metal oxide catalysts, especially MnO(x), whose activity was further improved with AgO(x) deposition. It was confirmed water vapor improves the efficiency of the plasma reactor, probably due to the formation of hydroxyl species, whereas, in situ decomposition of ozone on the catalyst surface may lead to nascent oxygen. It may be concluded that non-thermal plasma approach is beneficial for the removal of mixture of volatile organic compounds than individual VOCs, probably due to the formation of reactive intermediates like aldehydes, peroxides, etc.