Corona Destruction: An Innovative Control Technology for VOCs and Air Toxics

摘要

The paper discusses the work and results to date leading to the demonstration ofthe corona destruction process at pilot scale. The research effort in corona destruction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and air toxics has shown significant promise for providing a valuable contribution to critical EPA and national goals of attaining the ozone standard in more than 100 non-attainment areas nationwide and reducing the health effects associated with exposures to hazardous air pollutants. The corona destruction technology could be especially useful in future years in helping industry meet the residual risk requirements of the Clean Air Act of 1990. Since 1988, EPA has conducted research in the area of corona destruction of VOCs and air toxics. EPA's interest in corona destruction of molecular species started with modeling of a point-plane reactor for destroying toxic organic compounds. The emerging concern for excessive concentrations of ambient ozone (for which many VOCs are precursors), the need to develop technology to control low concentration streams, and the economic advantages of ambient temperature operation provided impetus for the work on high intensity corona reactor devices. The purpose of this work is to develop an industrial scale corona reactor capable of efficiently and cost-effectively destroying VOCs and air toxics at ambient temperature and pressure. (Copyright (c) 1993 Air and Waste Management Association.)