Oxidation of elemental mercury using atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma

The oxidation of gas phase elemental mercury (Hg 0) by atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma has been investigated at room temperature, employing both dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) of the gas mixture of Hg 0 and injection of ozone (O 3) into the gas mixture of Hg 0. Results have shown that the oxidative efficiencies of Hg 0 by DBD and the injection of O 3 are 59% and 93%, respectively, with energy consumption of 23.7 J L −1. This combined approach has indicated that O 3 plays a decisive role in the oxidation of gas phase Hg 0. Also the oxidation of Hg 0 by injecting O 3 into the gas mixture of Hg 0 proceeds with better efficiency than DBD of the gas mixture of Hg 0. These results have been explained by the incorporation of the competitive reaction pathways between the formation of HgO by O 3 and the decomposition of HgO back to Hg 0 in the plasma environment.