A lab-scale dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor was fabricated, and gaseous and particulate contaminant removal tests were carried out under a range of DBD reactor operating conditions: applied voltage (5.0-8.5 kV), frequency (60-1000 Hz), upstream toluene concentration (50-200 ppm) and gas flow rate (1-5 L min(-1) or 0.48-0.096s of gas residence time). The results suggested that the toluene removal efficiency (at 1 L min(-1), 100 ppm) increased (up to similar to 46%) either with increasing voltage (at 1000 Hz) or frequency (at 8.5 kV). The overall particle collection efficiency (at 1 L min(-1)) improved (up to similar to 60%) with increasing voltage (at 1000 Hz) whereas the penetration of the particles increased (up to similar to 40%) with increasing frequency (at 8.5 kV). The toluene removal efficiency (at 8.5 kV, 1000 Hz, 100 pm) decreased (down to similar to 29%) with increasing gas now rate while the particle collection efficiency decreased slightly (maintaining similar to 60%) regardless of the flow rate. In addition, the toluene removal efficiency (down to similar to 41%) and carbon dioxide selectivity (down to similar to 43%) decreased with increasing upstream toluene concentration (at 5 kV, 1000 Hz, 1 L min(-1)). (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.