Aqueous-phase pulsed streamer corona reactor using suspended activated carbon particles for phenol oxidation: model-data comparison

A pulsed high-voltage electrical discharge that produces streamers, or regi ons of non-thermal plasma, has been shown to be useful for degrading small organic species in synthetic wastewater in a bench-scale experimental syste m. This process is an example of an advanced oxidation technology that lead s to the formation of hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and aqueous ele ctrons, which in turn lead to organic contaminant removal through direct ch emical reactions. Experimental results show that with activated carbon part icles present, the removal of organic contaminants is increased due to the combination of direct oxidation of the organic species in the bulk fluid by pulsed corona and adsorption of the organic species to the surface of the activated carbon. There exists also the possibility of reactions occurring on the surface of the activated carbon-induced by the electrical discharge, thus continually regenerating the activated carbon. The present study deve lops a mathematical model incorporating multicomponent bulk and surface pha se reactions coupled with mass transfer, internal particle diffusion, and a dsorption to the carbon particles. Comparison of experimental results and t heory using phenol as a model compound implies surface reactions occurring on the activated carbon particles. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.