Non-thermal plasma for oxidation of gaseous products originating from thermal treatment of wastes

A plasma reactor generating non-equilibrium plasma in a gliding discharge was applied as one of the modules of a new laboratory device for hazardous waste destruction. The degradation process of wastes containing an organic part was carried out in two stages. The first one consisted of thermal decomposition of wastes in an inert atmosphere (pyrolysis process in argon flow—the gaseous products are formed from the organic part of wastes). In the second stage products of pyrolysis were oxidized in a gliding discharge. This work was focused on study of the parameters influencing the oxidation process of gases originating from pyrolysis and flowing into the plasma reactor. Oxygen was introduced into the plasma reactor simultaneously with the gases. We investigated two factors significantly affecting the oxidation process: (a) the oxygen concentration in the initial mixture of argon and oxygen and (b) the total flow of argon and oxygen gases. The best oxidation efficiency of the processing gases in the plasma was reached when the oxygen content did not exceed 20% and when the total flow of argon and oxygen was low enough not to cause disturbances of functioning of the plasma reactor.