Organic dye removal from aqueous solution by glidarc discharges

The performance of several electrical discharge gliding arc (glidarc) reactors for the removal of an organic dye from aqueous solution has been studied. The glidarc reactors utilized AC electrical discharges with two different electrode configurations. In one case, two electrodes were placed in the gas phase over the liquid surface (P = 250-300 W, U = 12 kV). In order to increase the dye removal from the aqueous solution a three-electrode glidarc reactor, where the solution to be treated was sprayed directly into the plasma (thereby increasing the interfacial area), was also studied (P = 500 W, U = 12 kV). The effects of the type of gas, including pure oxygen, pure nitrogen, argon, and dry air, on the dye removal rates were determined. Comparison of the reactor performance for these reactors with the previously obtained data for dye removal in a pulse corona discharge reactor is given. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.