Removal of toluene by non-thermal plasma coupled with catalyst

Non-thermal plasma coupled with catalysis was employed to remove the toluene that was a representative pollutant of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The effect of plasma reactors with or without fillings on toluene removal was investigated. Three kinds of catalysts were as follows: the catalyst of separate load TiO₂, BaTiO₃, or the mixed catalyst TiO₂+BaTiO₃. The effect of plasma reactors by adding the mixed catalyst of different BaTiO₃ and TiO₂ mass ratios were investigated, while the optimal ratio of the two materials was explored; the energy consumption of the plasma reactors by adding various catalysts were also studied; and the reaction product was analyzed. Results showed that the toluene degradation ability of different catalyst reactors was as follows: The mixed catalyst of TiO₂+BaTiO₃-separate load of BaTiO₃-separate load of TiO₂; the plasma reactor by adding mixed catalyst of BaTiO₃ and TiO₂ mass ratio of 2.375:1 had the best degradation effect of toluene, and the minimum energy consumption compared to other catalysts. The highest toluene degradation rate was 75.2% and the power was 138.8 W at 20 kV.