Decomposition of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in simulated sludge drying waste gas by a novel non-thermal plasma

•A novel gliding arc discharge plasma was proposed to treat NH3, H2S and their mixture.•Removal efficiencies of NH3 and H2S strongly depend on the applied voltage and waste gas velocity.•Maximum removal efficiency is achieved at an applied voltage of 11kV and gas velocity of 4.72ms−1.•When NH3 and H2S were treated, the total energy cost decreased by 38%.•After mixing, the emissions of SO2 and NO were reduced also. To efficiently clean NH3 and H2S contained in municipal sewage sludge drying waste gas, experiments were conducted with a novel gliding arc discharge plasma reactor. Important parameters including applied voltage and gas velocity which can strongly influence the removal efficiency, energy cost and by-products yields were investigated. Maximum removal efficiencies were all obtained at the applied voltage of 11kV and gas velocity of 4.72ms−1. When NH3 and H2S were treated together, the total energy cost decreased by 38%. NO and SO2 were observed as main decomposition by-products, and the presence of NH3 may inhibit the production of SO2 whose yield decreased from 223.8 to 27.8mgm−3. Tests performed on lab scale reactor showed that gliding arc discharge is efficient in decreasing the NH3 and H2S concentrations, and experiments will also be conducted on a larger scale reactor in the future.