Detoxification of trichloroethylene in a low-pressure surface wave plasma reactor

Application of surface wave plasmas as an alternative technology far the destruction and removal of chlorinated hydrocarbon pollutants is demonstrated. The destruction of parts per thousand concentrations of trichloroethylene in air/water or oxygen mixtures has been investigated in a low-pressure reactor at 5 Torr. Effluent analysis included the determination of destruction and removal efficiencies by electron capture gas chromatography and product distribution by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and titrimetric analysis. TCE conversions of up to 99.998% were achieved using radio frequency power densities ranging from 1.6 to 7.5 kJ/L and millisecond range residence times within the plasma. Product analysis indicated that trichloroethylene conversion was limited to light gases, primarily CO2, CO, HCl, and Cl-2.