The decomposition of benzene in air was carried out using a nonthermal plasma discharge reactor packed with ferroelectric materials. It was found that ferroelectric materials of 1-2 mm in diameter with a relative dielectric constant of epsilon(r) greater than or equal to 1100 decomposed benzene with greatest energy efficiency. Benzene at low concentrations (below 50 ppm) was completely decomposed to CO and CO(2) with no formation of other hydrocarbons. The ratio of CO to CO(2) produced from benzene was minimized under an atmosphere containing more than 5% O(2).