Decomposition of Pharmaceuticals by Pulsed Corona Discharges in Water Depending on Streamer Length

Pulsed corona discharges generated in water provide a possibility for the abatement of even stable organic compounds. Decomposition efficacy correlates with the length of streamers, which in turn depends on water conductivity and applied voltage. We investigated the relation between conductivities from 25 to 500 μS/cm, pulse duration, and visible streamer length for applied peak voltages of 70 and 82 kV. Streamer development for an initially applied peak voltage of 70 kV was related to the decomposition rates of the pharmaceutical carbamazepine that was dissolved in solutions with conductivities in the same range.