Destruction of Gaseous Styrene with a Low-Temperature Plasma Induced by a Tubular Multilayer Dielectric Barrier Discharge

The destruction of gaseous styrene was studied using a low-temperature plasma induced by tubular multilayer dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). The results indicate that the applied voltage, gas flow rate, inlet styrene concentration and reactor configuration play important roles in styrene removal efficiency (η_styrene) and energy yield (EY). Values of η_styrene and EY reached 96% and 15567 mg/kWh when the applied voltage, gas flow rate, inlet styrene concentration and layers of quartz tubes were set at 10.8 kV, 5.0 m/s, 229 mg/m³ and 5 layers, respectively. A qualitative analysis of the byproducts and a detailed discussion of the reaction mechanism are also presented. The results could facilitate industrial applications of the new DBD reactor for waste gas treatment. (plasma technology)