Tunable compact electron generated plasma system for treatment of gaseous wastes

Summary form only given. A tunable compact electron generated plasma reactor is being tested for the destruction of carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and other organics in air streams, under widely varying concentrations and conditions. The experimental device utilizes a combination of electron-beam irradiation and variable DC electric fields to destroy hazardous gases. The electron beam controls the plasma density, while the DC fields are used to affect the background electron energy and/or the temperature of the gas in order to vary the reaction rates. The electron beam irradiation produces nonequilibrium chemical reactions at low temperatures that can be used to convert organics into benign byproducts. The low-temperature, nonequilibrium operation can provide a high-efficiency, high-throughput technique for destruction of gases in dilute concentrations (< 1000 ppm). Tests indicate that the concentrations of carbon tetrachloride can be easily decreased by 2-3 orders of magnitude in the plasma reactor without the formation of other hazardous material.