A FREELY LOCALIZED MICROWAVE-DISCHARGE FOR REMOVAL OF CHLOROFLUOROCARBON CONTAMINATION FROM THE ATMOSPHERE

Intense microwave beams are proposed to be used for cleaning atmospher ic chlorofluorocarbon contamination which is destroying the ozone laye r of the earth. It is shown that it may be possible to excite microwav e discharges freely localized in the troposphere, the relation between the quantity of the destroyed chlorofluorocarbons and discharge param eters is established, the energy required for destruction is evaluated and possible unfavourable consequences of the accompanying effects (s uch as nitrogen oxides production) are analysed. The mechanism of diss ociative electron attachment which is manifested in a cold decaying pl asma of a pulsed microwave discharge is considered to be a principle m echanism causing dissociation of chlorofluorocarbons (CF2Cl2, CFCl3, e tc). The results are presented of a model laboratory experiment in whi ch, under conditions close to those of free space, a study is made of the efficiency of chlorofluorocarbon dissociation under the action of the discharge produced in air by intense microwave radiation. The expe rimental results do not contradict the conclusions of the analysis of elementary processes causing the destruction of the chlorofluorocarbon component.