Decomposition of benzene using a nonthermal plasma reactor packed with ferroelectric pellets

The decomposition of benzene in air was carried out using a nonthermal plasma discharge reactor packed with ferroelectric materials. It was found that ferroelectric materials of 1-2 mm in diameter with a relative dielectric constant of /spl epsiv//sub r/>1100 decomposed benzene with greatest energy efficiency. Benzene at low concentrations (below 50 ppm) was completely decomposed to CO and CO/sub 2/ with no formation of other hydrocarbons. The ratio of CO to CO/sub 2/ produced from benzene was minimized under an atmosphere containing more than 5% O/sub 2/.