(243a) Destruction of Chlorofluorocarbons in Non-Thermal Plasma

Non-thermal plasma has been studied as a prospective technology for remediation of gas streams

contaminated with VOCs, NOx, SOx, and other compounds. The research is directed towards

studying the mechanisms of destruction of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), specifically CH2ClF and

CCl3F in a corona discharge - generated non-thermal plasma. The destruction of CFCs was

studied in a tubular dielectric barrier AC corona discharge reactor coupled to an on-line

quadrupole mass-spectrometer. The spectrum and concentrations of the products of the

destruction were measured at the outlet of the reactor. The efficiency of the destruction was

studied as a function of the active power dissipated in the reactor and the flow rate. The research

showed that CH2ClF and CCl3F can be effectively destroyed by corona discharges in non-
thermal plasma at a concentration of 1000 ppm. The results confirm the theory that destruction

efficiencies are higher for compounds that have lower ionization energies than molecular

oxygen. The ionization energy of molecular oxygen is 12.07 eV, and those of CH2ClF and CCl3F

are 11.71 eV and 11.68 eV respectively. Lower concentration studies will be performed in the

future, to test if the destruction efficiency increases as the CFC concentration decreases. CFCs

are known as ozone depletion agents via the so-called chlorine catalytic cycle. The research

directly applies to the possible methods for utilization of CFC stockpiles and has applications to

atmospheric chemistry models.