TECHNICAL PAPERS
May 19, 2010

Removal of Toluene Using UV-Irradiated and Nonthermal Plasma–Driven Photocatalyst System

Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 11

Abstract

The removal of toluene using ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated and nonthermal plasma (NTP)-driven photocatalysts system was investigated. Results indicated that the combination of photocatalyst with NTP (NTP-driven photocatalyst) had much higher toluene removal efficiency (TRE) and better photocatalyst durability, compared with UV-irradiated photocatalysis. The TRE was proportional to ozone consumption rate in the NTP-driven photocatalyst system, in which catalytic ozonation played a vital role in toluene decomposition. Its mechanism of toluene destruction differed from that of photocatalytic oxidation. The active oxygen from catalytic ozone decomposition was the dominant active species in the NTP-driven photocatalyst system.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

Acknowledgments

The writers gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the National Key High Technology Research and Development Program of China (Grant No.UNSPECIFIED 2006AA06A310), the Ph.D. Programs Foundation of Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. UNSPECIFIED20070561042), and the CRCG of the University of Hong Kong (Grant No. UNSPECIFIED200907176159).

References

Blount, M. C., and Falconer, J. L. (2002). “Steady-state surface species during toluene photocatalysis.” Appl. Catal., B, 39, 39–50.
Cao, L. X. (2001). “Photocatalystic degradation of air contaminants.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 33–42.
Cao, L. X., Gao, Z., Suib, S. L., Obee, T. N., Hay, S. O., and Freihauty, J. D. (2000). “Photocatalytic oxidation of toluene on nanoscale TiO2 catalysts: Studies of deactivation and regeneration.” J. Catal., 196, 253–261.
Demidiouk, V., Moon, S. I., and Chae, J. O. (2003). “Toluene and butyl acetate removal from air by plasma-catalytic system.” Catal. Commun., 4, 51–56.
Einaga, H., and Futamura, S. (2004). “Catalytic oxidation of benzene with ozone over alumina-supported manganese oxides.” J. Catal., 227, 304–312.
Guo, Y. F. (2006). “Mechanism and reaction dynamics for volatile organic compounds decomposition with non-thermal plasma catalytic technology.” Ph.D. thesis, South China Univ. of Technology, Guangzhou, China, 96–103.
Huang, H. H., Ye, D. Q., Fu, M. L., and Feng, F. D. (2007). “Contribution of UV light to the decomposition of toluene in dielectric barrier discharge plasma/photocatalysis system.” Plasma Chem. Plasma Process., 27, 577–588.
Huang, H. H., Ye, D. Q., and Guan, X. J. (2008). “The simultaneous catalytic removal of VOCs and O3 in a post-plasma.” Catal. Today, 139, 43–48.
Kang, M., Kim, B. J., Cho, S. M., Chung, C. H., Kim, B. W., Han, G. Y., and Yoon, K. J. (2002). “Decomposition of toluene using an atmospheric pressure plasma/TiO2 catalytic system.” J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem., 180, 125–132.
Kim, H. H., Kobara, H., Ogata, A., and Futamura, S. (2005a). “Comparative assessment of different non-thermal plasma reactors on energy efficiency and aerosol formation from the decomposition of gas-phase benzene.” IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl., 41(1), 206–214.
Kim, H. H., Oh, S. M., Ogata, A., and Futamura, S. (2005b). “Decomposition of gas-phase benzene using plasma-driven catalyst (PDC) reactor packed with Ag/TiO2 catalyst.” Appl. Catal., 56, 213–220.
Lee, B. Y., Park, S. H., Lee, S. C., Kang, M. S., and Choung, S. J. (2004). “Decomposition of benzene by using a discharge plasma-photocatalyst hybrid system.” Catal. Today, 93–95, 769–776.
Lee, H. M., and Chang, M. B. (2003). “Abatement of gas-phase p-xylene via dielectric barrier discharges.” Plasma Chem. Plasma Process., 23, 541–558.
Liang, Y. H., Zhang, P., and Ma, G. D. (2004). “Experimental study on removing VOCs by photocatalysis assisted gas discharge.” Environ. Eng., 122, 46–48 (in Chinese).
Luo, Y., and Ollis, D. F. (1996). “Heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation of trichloroethylene and toluene mixtures in air: Kinetic promotion and inhibition, time-dependent catalyst activity.” J. Catal., 163, 1–11.
Marci, G., et al. (2003). “Heterogeneous photocatalytic reactions comparing TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 .” J. Photochem. Photobiol., A, 160, 247–255.
Obee, T. N., and Brown, R. T. (1995). “ TiO2 photocatalysis for indoor air applications: Effects of humidity and trace contaminant levels on the oxidation rates of formaldehyde, toluene, and 1,3-butadiene.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 29, 1223–1231.
Oda, T. (2003). “Non-thermal plasma processing for environmental protection: Decomposition of dilute VOCs in air.” J. Electrost., 57, 293–311.
Oda, T., Takahashi, T., and Yamaji, K. (2002). “Nonthermal plasma processing for dilute VOC’s decomposition.” IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl., 38, 873–878.
Sano, T., Negishi, N., Sakai, E., and Matsuzawa, S. (2006). “Contributions of photocatalytic/catalytic activities of TiO2 and γ-Al2O3 in non-thermal plasma on oxidation of acetaldehyde and CO.” J. Mol. Catal. A, 245, 235–241.
Siemon, U., Bahnemann, D., Testa, J. J., Rodríguez, D., Litter, M. I., and Bruno, N. (2002). “Heterogeneous photocatalytic reactions comparing TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 .” J. Photochem. Photobiol., A, 148, 247–255.
Sun, R. B., Xi, Z. G., Chao, F. H., Zhang, W., Zhang, H. S., and Yang, D. F. (2007). “Decomposition of low-concentration gas-phase toluene using plasma-driven photocatalyst reactor.” Atmos. Environ., 41, 6853–6859.
Urashima, K., and Chang, J. S. (2000). “Removal of volatile organic compounds from air streams and industrial flue gases by nonthermal plasma technology.” IEEE Trans. Dielectr. Electr. Insul., 7, 602–614.
Van Durme, J., Dewulf, J., Sysmans, W., Leys, C., and Langenhove Van, H. (2007). “Efficient toluene abatement in indoor air by a plasma catalytic hybrid system.” Appl. Catal., B, 74, 161–169.
Zhang, X. M., Huang, B. C., and Ye, D. Q. (2005). “Advances in researches on non-thermal plasma photocatalysis technology for air polullants control.” Chem. Ind. and Eng. Progr., 24, 964–967 (in Chinese).

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 136Issue 11November 2010
Pages: 1231 - 1236

History

Received: Oct 28, 2009
Accepted: May 17, 2010
Published online: May 19, 2010
Published in print: Nov 2010

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

H. B. Huang [email protected]
Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Rd., Hong Kong, China. E-mail: [email protected]
Professor, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, South China Univ. of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China. E-mail: [email protected]
Dennis Y. C. Leung [email protected]
Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, The Univ. of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Rd., Hong Kong, China. E-mail: [email protected]

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share