Study on Purification of volatile organic compounds with non-thermal plasma

Objective To investigate the purification performance of four volatile organic compounds (VOCs), i.e., toluene, acetone, ethyl acetate and carbon tetrachloride, with non-thermal plasma.

Methods The degree and kinetics of purification were studied in both single VOC system and two-component VOC system.

Results In single VOC system, the purification degree of the four substances were all above 90% after 300 min, and the kinetic curves of the four substances fitted well with the exponential equation C_t=C₀·e^-kt. The purification rate showed in order of higher to lower as carbon tetrachloride, toluene, acetone and ethyl acetate. In the two-component VOC mixtures (acetone and ethyl acetate) studied, the purifying degree of any one component was lower than that of the single component. There was a competitive inhibition of purifying rate between two components. Purification of acetone was higher than that of ethyl acetate.

Conclusion Low temperature plasma has obvious purification effect on several volatile organic compounds, and the purification rate is fast. This technology can provide a basis for efficient purification of volatile organic compounds in the air of workplaces.