Gas phase corona discharges for oxidation of phenol in an aqueous solution

A new method for the removal of harmful organic molecules from water is des cribed. A low power corona discharge is created over the aqueous solution. Chemically active species diffuse into the water and then oxidize the targe t compound, which in this case is the model compound phenol. The energy con sumption per removed phenol molecule is one order of magnitude lower compar ed to the discharge techniques that create a plasma in the water. The react ion mechanism of the conversion is shown by measuring the ozone concentrati on over the water, the intermediate/final oxidation products and the releas e of CO2 from the water. Indications are found that the discharge is more t han merely an ozone generator.