NON-EQUILIBRIUM PLASMA CHEMICAL PROCESS FOR CONTROL OF NOx, VOC's AND AIR TOXICS

Non-equilibrium plasma chemical processes (NEPCP) can be applied to the control of NOx, VOCs, and air toxics such as heavy metals, nitroaromatics, and other extraordinary active mutagens, from combustion and/or industrial sources, including vent and flue gases. The advantage of the non-equilibrium plasma chemical process for the control of NOx, VOCs, and air toxics is that it can operate at ambient temperatures, enabling its application after existing gas cleanup equipment such as electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers or bag houses or in processes where the VOCs or air toxics are from plant or building exhausts. Such a process is also suitable for control of odors. It is felt that non-equilibrium plasma chemical processes are a new, innovative, and cost-effective approach to prevent and control NOx emissions from stationary and mobile sources. Due to the limited effort of the Phase I study and the many varied possibilities of the application of the non-equilibrium plasma chemical process to NOx, VOCs, and air toxics, the Phase I study will concentrate on (1) reduction of NO to nitrogen; (2) destruction of various industrial and commercial solvent vapors, such as styrene, naphtha, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, benzene, perchloroethylene, trichloroethane and methanol; (3) destruction of nitroaromatic vapors, such as nitrobenzene and nitromethane; and (4) destruction of fuel vapors, such as gasoline and kerosene.