Effect of Pt/γ-Al2O3 Catalyst on Nonthermal Plasma Decomposition of Benzene and Byproducts

Abstract This article presents the effects of different packing materials in dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor on benzene removal efficiency to clarify the mechanism of combining efficiency between nonthermal plasma and catalyst over organic contaminants degradation. The influence of γ-Al2O3 and Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalysts on benzene decomposition was examined by passing gaseous benzene through two DBD reactors, each packed with one of the catalysts mentioned above. Concentrations of benzene, CO, CO2, NO2, and NO were measured and decomposition efficiency (of benzene), selectivity (of CO and CO2), and carbon balance were calculated to compare the effects of γ-Al2O3 catalyst with that of Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst in DBD reactors on benzene degradation. Data showed that at the same input energy density, benzene decomposition efficiency increased by about 20%, whereas the amount of CO released decreased by about 50% when using Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. From the Arrhenius plot, the activation energy of Pt/γ-Al2O3 cata...