Oxidation of elemental mercury using atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma

Abstract

The oxidation of gas phase elemental mercury (He) by atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma has been investigated at room temperature, employing both dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) of the gas mixture of Hg-0 and injection of ozone (03) into the gas mixture of He. Results have shown that the oxidative efficiencies of He by DBD and the injection Of O-3 are 59%, and 93%, respectively, with energy consumption of 23.7 J L-1. This combined approach has indicated that 03 plays a decisive role in the oxidation of gas phase He. Also the oxidation of He by injecting 03 into the gas mixture of He proceeds with better efficiency than DBD of the gas mixture of He. These results have been explained by the incorporation of the competitive reaction pathways between the formation of Hg-0 by O-3 and the decomposition of Hg-0 back to He in the plasma environment. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.