Diagnosis of electron temperature in Ar/O2 mixed gas and destruction of toluene/benzene by positive dc discharge plasma

The electron temperature (Te) of positive dc corona plasma in Ar/O2 atmosphere was diagnosed, and plasma decomposition of toluene/benzene was studied in a razor–plate reactor. Experimental results revealed that Te would increase with corona current until it reached a peak value, and then decrease; the volume fraction of Ar (φAr) in Ar/O2 mixed gas also influenced Te, the higher φAr, the lower Te. Though the decomposed volume fraction of toluene/benzene was positively related to the input power, the decomposition efficiency did not monotonically increase with the specific energy density. The highest energy yield reached 3.8 g-toluene/kWh and 2.4 g-benzene/kWh, respectively.