Enhancing the Decomposition of Polluted Air Streams with Additional Metal Plates in a Multi-Electrode Twin Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge System*

Reactive species created by surface dielectric barrier discharges (SDBD) can be used to decompose volatile organic compounds (VOCs, e.g. butoxyethanol and n-butane) in polluted air streams. This process can be operated close to room temperature, does not require air pumps or ramp-up time, and is scalable, which is highly relevant to industrial applications.In this work, strategies to increase VOCs conversion in a multi-electrode SDBD system are investigated. A system consisting of five electrodes with additional plates or meshes between them is used. Various plate materials, such as aluminium, titanium and manganese dioxide coated ceramics are chosen. The relative conversion is measured by flame ionization detectors. The potential influence of material properties as well as changes in the fluid flow within the reactor on the VOCs conversion are discussed.