Decomposition of benzene in a corona discharge at atmospheric pressure

We investigated the decomposition characteristics of benzene in a positive DC corona discharge between multineedle and plane electrodes with a background gas of nitrogen–oxygen mixture at atmospheric pressure. We obtained C2H2, HCN, HCOOH, CO and CO2 as benzene fragments and by-products, and C2H2 and HCN as minor intermediate products. Benzene was primarily converted into CO2 via CO at low oxygen concentrations (0.2%) and via CO and HCOOH at the atmospheric oxygen concentration (20%). Further, 57% and 24% of carbon atoms were deposited on the plane electrode and the discharge chamber at oxygen concentrations of 0.2% and 20%, respectively.