Plasma abatement of air contaminated with trichloroethene degreasing agent

Trichloroethene (TCE) is one of the volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons allowed in industrial use. TCE emissions are restricted and future regulation may require more stringent abatement of TCE discharges to air. This paper examines the environmental performance of an atmospheric pressure microwave plasma and a gas burner to treat air contaminated with TCE that is presently discharged to atmosphere. The performance of both is measured and modelled. The merits of microwave plasma verses non-thermal plasma for pollution abatement are considered, as well as the need for an increased understanding of the measures used to determine the efficiency of non-thermal plasma abatement techniques