Oxidation of kerosene components in a soil matrix by a dielectric barrier discharge reactor

This paper discusses some aspects of the kerosene components oxidation in a soil matrix by a dielectric barrier discharge reactor at atmospheric pressure. The total kerosene components abatement can reaches 90% for an energy density of 960J g(soil)(-1) The analyses of the discharge cell outlet gas reveals that CO and hydrocarbon compounds selectivity is close to 10%. A semi-quantitative approach by GC-FID shows that the carbon content in the oxidized compounds in soil is about 20% of the carbon content in the initial kerosene components. The polar species formed in soil are a mixture of aliphatic and aromatic molecules containing alcohol and carboxylic acid groups. The process of kerosene oxidation in soil matrix is more promoted than kerosene desorption followed by an oxidation in gas phase. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Institution of Chemical Engineers.