Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, Vol.36, No.2, 615-626, 2016
Glow Discharge Plasma Induced Dechlorination and Decomposition of Dichloromethane in an Aqueous Solution
In the present study, efficient dechlorination and decomposition of dichloromethane (DCM) induced by glow discharge plasma (GDP) in contact with an aqueous solution was investigated. Experimental results showed that DCM underwent effective dechlorination and decomposition under the action of GDP. Both the removal and the dechlorination of DCM increased with increasing pH and with the presence of hydroxyl radical scavengers and decreased with quenchers of hydrated electrons. Formic acid and formaldehyde were the major intermediate byproducts. Final products were carbon dioxide and chloride ion. Hydrated electrons were the most important active species responsible for initiation of the reaction. Hydrolysis of the resulting chloromethyl radicals played an important role in mineralization of chlorine atoms of the molecule. Hydroxyl radicals were mainly involved in the oxidation of the intermediate byproducts. Reaction mechanism was proposed based on the dechlorination kinetics and the distribution of intermediate byproducts.