Effects of the Voltage and Current Waveforms and Discharge Power on Hydrogen Peroxide Formation in Water-Spray Gliding Arc Reactors

This paper deals with the effects of discharge power and voltage and current waveforms on the formation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) from liquid water sprayed as a fine aerosol into a plasma formed by a gliding arc discharge. The formation rates of H₂O₂ were determined for different values of the power injected into the reactor (1-7 W), as well as for different means of applying the power [pulsed, alternating current (ac), and direct current (dc)], with argon carrier. For the same power injected into the plasma, the pulsed power was more efficient than the ac power which was, in turn, more effective than the dc power for the generation of H₂O₂. Energy yield increased with water flow up to 10 mL/min and thereafter was constant with a maximum of about 6 g/kWh.