Aqueous Benzene Oxidation in Low-Temperature Plasma of Pulsed Corona Discharge

Wastewaters polluted with non-biodegradable volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as aromatic substances, present a growing problem meeting no adequately affordable technological response. Low-temperature plasma generated in the gas-phase pulsed corona discharge (PCD) presents competitive advanced oxidation technology in abatement of various classes of pollutants, although the process parameters, the pulse repetition frequency and the liquid spray rate, require optimization. The experimental research into aqueous benzene oxidation with PCD was undertaken to establish the impact of the parameters to the energy efficiency. The oxidation reaction was found under the experimental conditions to mostly proceed in the gas phase showing little influence of the pulse repetition frequency and the gas-liquid contact surface. Oxidation of benzene and, presumably, other volatile pollutants in the volume of PCD reactor compartment presents an effective strategy of aqueous VOCs abatement.