| Abstract
| - A large (ca 0.7 L) wire-cylinder benchtop reactor wasdeveloped and tested for DC corona processing of VOC(volatile organic compound)-contaminated air at roomtemperature and pressure. The aim of our research is theidentification and rationalization of the chemical reactionsresponsible for VOC removal. Model hydrocarbons, n-hexaneand 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (i-octane), were used tocharacterize the process and compare the effects of DCcorona polarity and of humidity on its energy efficiency andproducts. n-Hexane and i-octane behave very similarly.For both, the energy efficiency is significantly better withnegative than with positive DC corona, especially inhumid air. The effect of humidity is most interesting. Thus,while with −DC corona the process efficiency issignificantly better in humid air, a slight inhibition isobserved with +DC corona. Differences between +DCand −DC corona are also found in the amounts of volatileproducts formed, which include CO2, CO, and minorquantities of organic byproducts (aldehydes, ketones,alcohols, and lower hydrocarbons). A significant fractionof the carbon originally present as VOC is, however,unaccounted for by the analysis of gaseous and volatileorganic products and must, therefore, end up as nonvolatilematerials and aerosols.
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