Removal of volatile organic compounds from air streams and industrial flue gases by non-thermal plasma technology

Gaseous pollution control technologies for acid gases (NO/sub x/, SO/sub x/, etc.), volatile organic compounds (VOC), greenhouse gases, ozone layer depleting substance (ODS), etc., have been commercialized based on catalysis, incineration and adsorption methods. However, non-thermal plasma techniques based on electron beams and corona discharges become significant due to advantages such as lower cost, higher removal efficiency, smaller space volume, etc. In order to commercialize this new technology, the following needs faster investigation: pollution gas removal rates, energy efficiency of removal, pressure drop of reactors, usable byproduct production rates, identification of major fundamental processes, and optimization of reactor and power supply for an integrated system. In this work, recent development of gaseous pollution control technology based on discharge plasmas is reviewed critically and the principle of processes and reactor technologies are outlined.