Interface reactions between water and ionic wind generated by d.c. corona discharge in nitrogen

This work investigated the interface reactions between water and ionic wind from a positive d.c. corona discharge in nitrogen. The effects of drift ions and active neutral species were investigated on their production of hydrogen peroxide in water. Both positive drift ions and active neutral species were found to produce hydrogen peroxide in water. 1 mol positive drift ions can produce 0.13 mol hydrogen peroxide under atmospheric pressure; a reduced gas pressure increased the production of hydrogen peroxide, with 1 mol ions producing 0.29 mol hydrogen peroxide at 100 torr. The gas pressure has little effect on the production of hydrogen peroxide by active neutral species. The drift positive ions acted as ion anode on water surface, reacting with water to produce hydrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide. The adsorbed form of OH and O produced at the interface can synergistically work to react with the OH scavengers in water. Both HO₂ and H₂O₂ from the discharge were transported to water to produce the liquid phase hydrogen peroxide. (paper)