Simulated experiments for removal of odorous gases by wire-mesh electrode dielectric barrier discharge

Abstract

The emission of odorous gases from various industrial processes such as factories and wastewater treatment, in addition to emissions from landfills and livestock, has become a public concern because of their negative effect on air quality and human health. This study presents a technology based on dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) of wire-mesh type with a high-voltage electric wire as the electrode. This system was used to experimentally assess the removal efficiency of odorous gases. The plasma system consists of a wire electrode with a mesh-type configuration, a small blower (1.6 N m3/min, compressed air) for the plasma discharge or to supply cooling gas, and an AC high-voltage power supply. The plasma system offers the advantages of low power consumption and a large discharge area for ozone production. The wire-mesh electrode DBD comprises 64 discharge nodes, and the large amount of ozone generated from these nodes is used to oxidize odorous gases. Under optimized conditions, ozone is stably generated at the rate of 5.1 g/h for a specific input energy of 3.7 J/L. The ozone and odorous compounds (H2S: 4.5 ppm, CH3SH: 6.7 ppm, NH3: 3 ppm, outlet concentration) are injected into the main blower (20 N m3/min, compressed air). Finally, the experiments designed to simulate the removal of odorous gases confirmed that 99% of odorous compounds were removed using the wire-mesh electrode DBD. The cost-effectiveness and scalability of this system make it highly suitable for use in industrial environments where odorous gases are produced.