Oxidative decomposition of chlorinated hydrocarbons by glow discharge in PACT (plasma and catalyst integrated technologies) reactors Original Research Article

The oxidative decomposition of methyl chloride (CH3Cl) and methylene chloride (CH2Cl2) by glow discharge has been carried out in a new type of reactor using plasma and catalyst integrated technologies (PACT) in our laboratory. The PACT reactors with metal (Fe, Pt, or Au) coated electrodes were used in our experiments at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Feed compositions were 5000 ppm of either CH3Cl or CH2Cl2 and 5% of oxygen with a balance of helium and a total flow rate of around 20 ml/min. Significant conversions (as high as 90%) of CH3Cl or CH2Cl2 have been achieved for the oxidative decomposition of CH3Cl or CH2Cl2 using PACT reactors.