ELECTRON-BEAM AND PULSED CORONA PROCESSING OF CARBON-TETRACHLORIDE INATMOSPHERIC-PRESSURE GAS STREAMS

Experimental results are presented on electron beam and pulsed corona processing of atmospheric-pressure gas streams containing dilute conce ntrations of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Electron beam processing is remarkably more energy efficient than pulsed corona processing in deco mposing CCl4. The specific energy consumption in each reactor is consi stent with dissociative electron attachment as the dominant decomposit ion pathway. The energy efficiency of the plasma process is insensitiv e to the gas temperature, at least up to 300 degrees C. By doing the e xperiments using both dry air and N-2, the contribution of O radicals in the decomposition of CCl4 is assessed. A discussion of the chemical kinetics starting from the initial decomposition of CCl4 to the forma tion of products is presented.