A tubular plasma reactor for the treatment of contaminanted foam
AssigneeClarkson University
InventorsOsakpolo F. Isowamwen, Thomas M. Holsen, Selma Medovic-Thagard
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Abstract
The generation of electrical discharge plasma in foam containing adsorbed contaminants in the gas phase. In the conventional gas discharge reactors, the plasma electrode configuration features one of the electrodes in the liquid phase and the other in the gas phase such that plasma propagates on the surface of the liquid. In this system, both electrodes are covered by the foam. The surface of the bubbles in the foam serves as adsorption sites for the contaminant which decreases bulk liquid mass transport and increases the contact area between the plasma species and the contaminants.
Claims6
An electrical discharge plasma reactor system for treating foam containing adsorbed contaminants, the reactor system comprising:
- a. a reactor chamber configured to contain liquid, gas and foam therein, and a means for cooling the reactor chamber;
- b. a discharge electrode disposed within the reactor chamber;
- c. a grounded electrode positioned adjacent the discharge electrode;
- d. a diffuser adapted to generate bubbles that produce foam in the gas phase;
- and
- e. a power supply connected to at least one of the discharge electrodes and the grounded electrode, the power supply configured to induce the discharge electrode and the grounded electrode to generate plasma within the foam.
A method for treating foam containing adsorbed contaminants using an electrical discharge plasma reactor system, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. containing liquid, gas and foam in a reactor chamber;
- b. providing a colling jacket around the reactor chamber;
- c. using a diffuser to generate bubbles that produce foam in the gas phase at the bottom of the reactor chamber;
- and
- d. establishing a sufficiently high electric potential difference between two electrodes to generate an electrical discharge plasma in the foam accumulated in the gas phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.