Background and aims: In recent decades, non-thermal plasma technology has been developed as a novel technology in controlling volatile organic compounds. The main problem with this method is Production of byproducts, high energy consumption and the short duration of the presence of the pollutant in the oxidizing range which in turn reducing the probability of oxidation. Accordingly, this study was conducted aimed to investigate the effect of cold plasma reactor (dielectric barrier discharging) Integration with alumina adsorbent on the efficiency of Toluene vapor removal and optimization of operating conditions in plasma reactor and combined plasma reactors.
Material and Methods The study was conducted in a laboratory reactor in the dimensions of the table. In order to investigate the effect of the integration of cold plasma reactors with alumina adsorbent, 42 series of experiments were designed. In each experiment, at first, the efficiency of removing the plasma reactor by passing a certain concentration of Toluene from the reactor, then making the plasma and measuring the concentration of Toluene in the output of reactor was calculated. Then reactor filled with alumina adsorbent and each experiment was carried out in two steps of adsorption and oxidation. Thus, at the absorption stage, the air flow containing a specific concentration of Toluene was passed through the adsorbent after reaching the absorbent breakthrough, the flow of Toluene was discontinued and with the passage of clean air and the formation of plasma, the accumulated pollutant on surface of the adsorbent oxidized and removal efficiency was calculated.
Results: The results showed that the integration of the plasma reactor with adsorbent resulted in increased removal efficiency from 91% to 98% and doubling the capacity elimination in optimal conditions. Also, the amount of carbon dioxide production increased from 54 to 104 ppm in optimal conditions. In the plasma reactor, concentration and flow have an inversely correlation with the removal efficiency But the combination of the plasma reactor with the alumina adsorbent led to an increase in removal efficiency by increasing concentrations and flow. On the other hand adsorption capacity increased with increasing concentrations.
Conclusion: The use of alumina adsorbent in plasma range while increasing removal efficiency as well as elimination capacity, providing the necessary conditions for discontinuous utilization of plasma and saving energy.
Keywords: Non-thermal Plasma, Dielectric Barrier Discharge, Volatile Organic Compound, Oxidation, Adsorbent, Toluen
