Short-pulsed-electric degradation of aqueous organics

We describe the degradation of aqueous organic solutions (specifically, aromatic chlorinated compounds), based on short pulsed corona/streamer discharge in a water-air aerosol. The aerosol (droplet diameter: 10–100 µm) is injected into a discharge reactor with a repetitively pulsed voltage of 40–60 kV, 50–150 ns, 10²–10³ Hz. The relatively large water dielectric constant and high degree of atomization result in efficient degradation of the organic molecules, including paranitrophenol, di-chlorophenol and per-chioro-ethylene. The specific energy cost for degradation of one organic molecule is in the range of 40–100 eV/mol (calculated from the energy input in the discharge), and depends upon system operating parameters and the organic-species concentration.