Decomposition of Gas-Phase Benzene Using Plasma – Driven Catalyst Reactor: Complete Oxidation of Adsorbed Benzene Using Oxygen Plasma

Abstract In this work, we report the decomposition of gas-phase benzene using plasma-driven catalyst (PDC) system of a single-stage configuration. The decomposition of benzene was affected by the reactor diameter of the surface discharge type PDC reactor. The smaller the reactor diameter, the higher the decomposition efficiency. Long-term test over 150 h demonstrated the stable operation of the PDC reactor without any deterioration of catalytic activity. The PDC reactor with Ag/TiO2 catalysts showed highly oxygen-dependent characteristics for benzene decomposition. Increase of oxygen partial pressure in the gas mixture enhanced deep oxidation to CO2 resulting in higher CO2 yield even at fixed specific input energy. This highly oxygendependent property was further extended the PDC system to a complete oxidation of adsorbed benzene using oxygen plasma. This new volatile organic compounds treatment method showed 100% of CO2 selectivity as well as no formation of CO and nitrogen oxides.