BACKGROUNDA combined system with non-thermal plasma catalysis, CuO/MnO2 as the catalyst, and biotrickling filter (BTF) unit for the treatment of gases containing 1,2-dichloroethane and n-hexane was investigated. RESULTSThe degradation of single 1,2-dichloroethane in the combined system was superior to that of the single BTF system. The combined system exhibited better adaptability when facing sudden changes in inlet concentrations and empty bed residence time. The presence of catalysts in the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor helped to reduce ozone generation and increase CO2 production and selectivity. Water solubility and degradability of the byproducts were also enhanced by the catalysts in the DBD reactor. Further studies showed that the degradation of 1,2-dichloroethane and n-hexane mixed exhaust gases and the re-acclimation performance after starvation in the combined system were better than those in the single BTF. Analysis of microbial communities showed higher biological diversity and abundance of microbial communities in the single-BTF system compared with the combined system. CONCLUSIONThe combined system with plasma-catalysis as pretreatment for the BTF can be used effectively to remove slowly biodegradable pollutants and has better stability and adaptability to changes in experimental conditions. (c) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry