Pulsed Discharge Plasma in High-Pressure Environment for Water Pollutant Degradation and Nanoparticle Synthesis

The application of high-voltage discharge plasma for water pollutant decomposition and the synthesis of nanoparticles under a high-pressure argon gas environment (similar to 4 MPa) was demonstrated. The experiments were carried out in a batch-type system at room temperature with a pulsed DC power supply (15.4 to 18.6 kV) as a discharge plasma source. The results showed that the electrode materials, the pulsed repetition rates, the applied number of pulses, and the applied voltages had a significant effect on the degradation reactions of organic compounds. Furthermore, carbon solid materials from glycine decomposition were generated during the high-voltage discharge plasma treatment under high-pressure conditions, while Raman spectra and the HRTEM images indicated that titanium dioxide with a brookite structure and titanium carbide nanoparticles were also formed under these conditions. It was concluded that this process is applicable in practice and may lead to advanced organic compound decomposition and metal-based nanoparticle synthesis technologies.

Automated summary

The experiment demonstrated the use of high-voltage discharge plasma for water pollutant decomposition and nanoparticle synthesis in a high-pressure argon gas environment. Various factors were found to have a significant impact on the degradation reactions of organic compounds, and carbon solid materials, titanium dioxide, and titanium carbide nanoparticles were formed under high-pressure conditions. The process shows promise for advanced organic compound decomposition and metal-based nanoparticle synthesis technologies.