Plasma degradation of trichloroethylene: process optimization and reaction mechanism analysis

Abstract In this study, a multi-pin-to-plate negative corona discharge reactor was employed to degrade the hazardous compound trichloroethylene (TCE). The response surface methodology was applied to examine the influence of various process factors (relative humidity (RH), gas flow rate, and discharge power) on the TCE decomposition process, with regard to the TCE removal efficiency, CO 2 and CO selectivities. The variance analysis was used to estimate the significance of the single process factors and their interactions. It has been proved that the discharge power had the most influential impact on the TCE removal efficiency, CO 2 and CO selectivities and subsequently the gas flow rate, and finally RH. Under the optimal conditions with 20.83% RH, 2 W discharge power and 0.5 l min –1 gas flow rate, the optimal TCE removal efficiency (86.05%), CO 2 selectivity (8.62%), and CO selectivity (15.14%) were achieved. In addition, a possible TCE decomposition pathway was proposed based on the investigation of byproducts identified in the exhaust gas of the non-thermal plasma reactor. This work paves the way for control of chlorinated volatile organic compounds.