Degradation of m -cresol in aqueous solution by dielectric barrier discharge

It was carried out a theoretical and experimental study of the m-cresol degradation in aqueous solution using a non-thermal plasma induced by dielectric barrier discharge. For the experimental setup a coaxial reactor vertically placed was used. Wherein a liquid solution flowing inside the internal electrode was impelled by a peristaltic pump and falling over the external surface of the internal electrode. Working gas was applied in a parallel direction respect to the surface of the liquid and inside of the quartz tube. Non-thermal plasma was generated at the gas-liquid interface in Ar-O2 gas mixtures with a high-voltage power supply system. The electric power applied ranged from 10–60W at a 3.0 kHz frequency. The initial concentration of m-cresol was of 5 × 10−3 mol/L, and the removal efficiency up to 97.3% was obtained after 1 h of treatment. For the theoretical study a simplified model of the chemical kinetics was developed where the temporary evolution of the compounds generated in the process of degradation of the m-cresol was analyzed. Byproducts as oxalic acid and CO2 were found.