Catalyst Enhanced Oxidation of VOCs and Methane in Cold-Plasma Reactors

Volatile organic compounds, VOCs, are used in a number of industrial processes in a variety of roles, for instance as solvents, cleaners and liquid fuels. During these processes, some of the VOCs, which are known to be air toxins, inevitably escape into the surrounding air. It is the release of this VOC-laden air into the atmosphere that is partly responsible for stratospheric ozone depletion, tropospheric ozone increase, global warming (the Greenhouse Effect) and some health problems. Here, we briefly review some applications of platinum metals catalysts in the abatement of VOCs and in the conversion of methane using cold-plasma techniques. Some information on the abatement of acid gases, the generation and application of non-thermal plasmas is also presented.