Determination of decomposition rate constants of volatile organic compounds and nitric oxide in a pulsed corona discharge reactor

The decomposition of toluene, propylene and nitric oxide by using a pulsed corona discharge process was investigated. The performance equation of the pulsed corona reactor was derived with the assumption that the decomposition reaction rate is directly proportional to the concentration of the pollutant and the discharge power. From this model equation and the experimental data, the apparent decomposition rate constants of various gaseous organic compounds and nitric oxide were determined. Alkene and substituted alkene were found to have much larger decomposition rate constants than aromatic compounds and substituted alkane, which indicates that the derivatives of aromatics and alkane cannot readily be decomposed in this system. To verify the validity of the model derived, the experimental data in the present study and in the literature were compared with the calculation results using the decomposition rate constants. Despite the different reactor geometry and experimental condition, good agreement between the experimental data and the calculation results was shown.