Odor control using the AC barrier type plasma reactors

Abstract

Odor control from living environment is becoming of increased concern. In the previous study, we investigated the removal of acetaldehyde (CH/sub 3/CHO) which is one of the main odor components in tobacco smoke using the barrier type packed-bed plasma reactor. In the present paper, we reported on the new results of acetaldehyde, ammonia (NH/sub 3/) which is another odor component and tobacco smoke removals. In the experiment, two kinds of AC nonthermal plasma reactor were used. One is the packed-bed plasma reactor used in the previous study, the other is the film-type plasma reactor consisting of laminated parallel steel plate electrodes. This reactor has lower pressure drop and higher energy efficiency than the packed-bed plasma reactor. In the experimental results using the packed-bed plasma reactor, more than 95% of acetaldehyde removal efficiency was obtained under dry air and N/sub 2/ environment. As for NH/sub 3/ removal, almost 100% removal efficiency was obtained with minimum reaction byproduct under dry air environment. In the experimental results using the film-type plasma reactor, it was confirmed that more than 90% of acetaldehyde removal efficiency can be obtained when the applied voltage is 8 kV. The byproducts were quantified using a FTIR. The induced HNO/sub 3/ reacted with NH/sub 3/ to produce NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ aerosol. In treatment of tobacco smoke, one of the main components, NH/sub 3/ can be completely removed. However, complete removal of another main component, CH/sub 3/CHO, was difficult because of its low concentration.