Experimental investigation of styrene destruction by DBD plasma and its conversion pathways

This work was devoted to the investigation of the contribution of various species in plasma to styrene decomposition. Different background gases (air, argon, nitrogen, and oxygen) and plasma reactor (in-plasma, post-plasma, and post-plasma with buffer tube) were employed in this experiment. The results showed that degradation and polymerization of styrene occur simultaneously in the plasma treatment process. In the discharge zone, the bombardment of electrons and energetic particles on styrene and its degradation intermediates played a role in breaking its weak bond energy and promoting their conversion. The short-lived reactive species with high oxidation potential in plasma were the prerequisite for complete degradation of styrene, due to its ability of breaking bonds with large bond energies, such as benzene ring. Away from the discharge zone, long-lived reactive oxygen species further oxidized and degraded styrene, and its intermediates outside the discharge zone, promoting their mineralization.