Destruction of HCFC-22 and Distribution of Byproducts in a Nonthermal Plasma Reactor Packed with Dielectric Pellets

The behavior of chlorodifluoromethane (CHF(2)Cl or HCFC-22) destruction and the formation of byproducts were investigated in a dielectric-packed nonthermal plasma reactor. The experimental parameters chosen were the initial CHF(2)Cl concentration, the oxygen content, the hydrogen content and the discharge power. The CHF(2)Cl destruction efficiency was found to be almost the same regardless of its initial concentration in the range of 250 - 2,000 ppm. The increase in the oxygen or hydrogen content significantly lowered the CHF(2)Cl destruction efficiency because they acted as scavengers of the reactive species rather than contributing to the destruction. The main byproducts identified were carbonyl fluoride (COF(2)), carbon oxides (CO(2) and CO) and nitrogen oxides (N(2)O and NO(2)). The energy yield for CHF(2)Cl destruction was 0.38 - 3.6 MJg(-1), depending on its initial concentration.