Benzene destruction in direct current and pulse-superimposed atmospheric pressure air glow discharges

Benzene, a carcinogenic volatile organic compound, is commonly used as a solvent. We have explored the use of a high pressure glow discharge in a near atmospheric and atmospheric pressure benzene/air mixture for benzene remediation. By using a micro-hollow cathode discharge (MHCD) as an electron source to lower or eliminate the cathode fall voltage, a glow discharge could be operated either in a dc mode [1] or in a pulse-superimposed mode [2] at atmospheric pressure air. A higher than 90% destruction rate has been obtained by flowing a benzene/dry air mixture through the dc glow discharge. For a pressure of 720 torr, superimposed electric pulses caused an increase in destruction of benzene, however, for 760 torr, the remediation effect was reversed.