Parametric study of an atmospheric pressure microwave-induced plasma of the mini MIP torch — II. Two-dimensional spatially resolved excitation temperature measurements

Two-dimensional mapping of the excitation temperatures have been carried out in the microwave-induced plasma torch with tangential argon flow. It is detected that the presence of wet aerosols in a nebulizer gas increases axial excitation temperature while desolvation acts in the opposite direction. The influence of low hydrogen concentration in the support gas and potassium in the nebulizer gas on the temperature distribution is studied in detail. The comparison of excitation temperature and electron number density distributions clearly indicates non-equilibrium plasma conditions.     

Parametric study of an atmospheric pressure microwave-induced plasma of the mini MIP torch — I. Two-dimensional spatially resolved electron-number density measurements

The results of spatial distribution measurements of the electron-number density, N_e, in an atmospheric pressure microwave-induced plasma in argon are presented. Electron-number density is determined from the width of the hydrogen H_β 486.13-nm line. The influence of the microwave input power in the range 80–150 W on the spatial distribution of N_e is first determined. For the selected input power of 100 W, the influence of molecular hydrogen in wet and desolvated nebulizer and support gas, and the corresponding changes in the electron density distributions are studied. The influence of potassium as a low ionization-potential element on the spatial distribution of N_e is also studied, with the result that a considerable lowering of the electron number density is detected.     

Decomposition of toluene using an atmospheric pressure plasma/TiO2 catalytic system

Application of atmospheric pressure plasma as an alternative technology for the destruction of toluene is demonstrated in this study. Used TiO₂ colloidal solution was obtained by an improved sol–gel method, and coated on glass beads to prepare decomposition of toluene. The physical property of synthesized TiO₂ catalyst film was analyzed by XRD and SEM spectroscopy. From these results, it was identified that the catalyst film exhibited anatase structure with particle size of about 50–100 nm after calcination at 500 °C for 1 h. The decomposition of toluene in TiO₂/O₂ plasma system was investigated. Amounts of the catalyst and toluene concentration were fixed as 3 wt.% and 1000 ppm, respectively. The analyses for performance of toluene decomposition and intermediates in reaction were done by the in situ method using the mass spectroscopy and gas chromatography. The toluene of 40% was decomposed at pulse voltage of 13 kV in the only O₂ plasma condition without TiO₂ catalyst. Furthermore, the conversion enhanced remarkably in the TiO₂/O₂ plasma system, and it reached 70% at pulse voltage of 13 kV after 120 min. This result was very notable compared with that in photocatalytic system, with below 40% after 120 min reaction.     

Enhanced lithium electrochromic performance of tungsten oxide films by rapid co-synthesis of iron and tantalum oxides using cold atmospheric pressure plasma polymerization

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Lithium electrochromic performance of organo-tungsten oxynitride (WOz1Cz2Nz3) films enhanced by additions of organo-iron oxynitride (FeOz1Cz2Nz3) or...     

Fast functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes by an atmospheric pressure plasma jet

The afterglow of an atmospheric pressure plasma has been used for the fast oxidative functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy demonstrate that the MWCNT morphology is mostly preserved when the MWCNTs are dispersed in a solvent and injected as a spray into the plasma. Contact angle measurements show that this approach enhances the wettability of MWCNTs and reduces their sedimentation in an aqueous dispersion. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and electrokinetic measurements show that oxygen plasma incorporates about 6.6 at.% of oxygen and creates mainly hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups on the MWCNT surface. The typical effective treatment time is estimated to be in the range of milliseconds. The approach is ideally suited for combination with the industrial gas phase CVD synthesis of MWCNTs.     

Enhanced lithium ionic intercalation and conduction performance of flexible iron oxide films using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Enhancement on lithium ionic intercalation and conduction performance of flexible-organo-iron oxide (FeO y C z ) films, via a rapid co-synthesis with...     

A new microwave plasma at atmospheric pressure

Plasma at atmospheric pressure can be obtained by surface wave propagation with a surfatron. If the plasma is produced within a quartz tube, it is constricted to a diameter of approx. 1 or 2 mm but its length can attain some tens of centimeters with microwave power as low as 100 W. This plasma is quite uniform along the axis, with a typical electron density of 3 × 10¹⁴ electrons/cm³. Since the excitation and gas temperatures are lower than 4000 K, the plasma is far from local thermodynamic equilibrium. High stability and repeatability is achieved with an argon flow of 0.2–17 l/min. Applications are foreseen in the field of optical spectroscopy and plasma chemistry.     

Determination of cholesterol oxides in processed food using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation

The present work describes the development and application of an on-line atmospheric pressure ionisation (APCI) LC-MS interface for the simultaneous determination of seven toxicologically relevant cholesterol oxides (7alpha-hydroxycholesterol, 7beta-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol, 5,6alpha-, 5,6beta-epoxycholesterol and cholestan-3beta,5alpha,6beta-triol). The HPLC method has been optimised to reach better separation of all tested compounds. The influences of APCI parameters (nebulising temperature, cone voltage, source temperature) on signal intensity and fragmentation pattern were investigated for all tested cholesterol oxides compounds. This is the first report on optimisation and determination of two compounds 7alpha-hydroxycholesterol and 5,6beta-epoxycholesterol in processed food using LC-MS. After extraction with hexane, clean-up was carried out using solid-phase extraction on a silica column. For the chromatographic separation of cholesterol oxides an Aquasil C18 column was used with acetonitrile-methanol (60:40) as mobile phase. For the first time we report the use of such a C18 column with a relatively hydrophilic nature for the separation of cholesterol oxides. APCI-MS detection was then applied in selected ion monitoring and positive ion modes by using the molecular ions and the main fragments. The developed method shows good linearity, high repeatability and good recovery for all tested cholesterol oxides. The method was applied for determination of seven selected cholesterol oxidation products in different foodstuffs such as butter, butteroil, lard and egg powder.     

Application of an atmospheric pressure helium microwave-induced plasma as an element-selective detector for gas chromatography

An atmospheric pressure helium microwave-induced plasma (MIP) was combined with a gas chromatograph (GC). and used as an element-selective detector for GC. The detection limits, dynamic ranges and selectivities were obtained for H, C, F, Cl, Br, I and S. Such data for nitrogen and oxygen could not be obtained because of the interference from air which was entrained into the system through the leakages of the tubing and the valve system. The detection limits and dynamic ranges for all the elements investigated were in a range between 1.8 and 39pgs^?1 and between 1.6 × 10³ and 1.1 × 10⁵, respectively. Furthermore, the relative sensitivities of C, H, Cl and Br for various compounds were examined. In the cases of carbon and hydrogen, the relative sensitivities were not the same for different compounds containing oxygen and nitrogen. This result may be explained by the incomplete decomposition of such compounds due to the low microwave power (75 W) applied in the present system.     

Improvements of the cylindrical TM010 cavity for an atmospheric pressure microwave-induced plasma

This note describes some technical improvements to facilitate the operation of a cylindrical TM₀₁₀-cavity used to generate a microwave induced plasma at atmospheric pressure. By improving the frequency tuning, the impedance matching and the microwave power coupling of the cavity, it becomes possible to sustain plasmas under widely different conditions with a single cavity.     

An experimental study of asymmetry in an argon inductively coupled plasma torch using a relaxation method

A relaxation method is used to undertake an experimental study of the degree of cylindrical symmetry present in an argon inductively coupled plasma torch, ICP. This technique, in effect a direct comparison between two different parameters, the electron (T_e) and gas (T_g) temperatures in the torch, is shown to be a very sensitive indicator of axisymmetry. Measurements using this technique delineate areas of axisymmetry in the ICP, and show that axisymmetry is significantly dependent on the observation height and coolant gas flow-rate.     

The destruction of atmospheric pressure propane and propene using a surface discharge plasma reactor

Surface discharge plasma reactors (SDRs) have been shown to be effective in removing a wide range of pollutants. In this study, the effectiveness of a SDR for the removal of propane and propene from an atmospheric pressure air stream was investigated. For an input energy of 100 J L-1, the conversions were found to be 16% and 68% for propane and propene, respectively. The total carbon recovery was found to increase with increasing specific input energy (SIE) for both hydrocarbons. FTIR analysis showed that CO and CO2 are the major end-products, and GC-MS identified formic acid as a significant byproduct. The effect of initial propane concentration was also investigated. The reaction chemistry involved in the oxidative plasma conversion of propane and propene is discussed.     

High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of porphyrins by using an atmospheric pressure interface

A method is described for the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) mass spectrometry analysis of porphyrin mixtures by using an atmospheric pressure interface, which can operate in two modes: pneumatically assisted elecrrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). Optimization of the conditions and evaluation of spectral information has been carried out by using direct injection of free-base and metallo porphyrin standards. The most effective results were obtained using APCI. HPLC-APCI mass spectrometry analysis of the demetallated vanadyl porphyrin fraction from the Triassic Serpiano oil shale has allowed rapid characterization of the distribution; more than 50 significant components are present. The presence of trace amounts of high molecular weight (>C₃₃) cycloalkano porphyrins indicates the occurrence of photic zone anoxia in the ancient water column. This example illustrates the potential of the approach for studies of porphyrin mixtures of environmental or biological significance, which should be applicable to other types of metallo and free-base components that can be separated by HPLC under normal or reversed-phase conditions.     

Methane coupling in microwave plasma under atmospheric pressure

Methane coupling in microwave plasma under atmospheric pressure has been investigated.The effects of molar ratio n(CH4)/n(H2),flow rate and microwave power on the reaction have been studied.(1)With the decrease of n(CH4)/n(H2)ratio,methane conversion,C2 hydrocarbon yield,energy yield and space-time yield of acetylene increased,but the yield of carbon deposit decreased.(2)With the increase of microwave power,energy yield of acetylene decreased,but space-time yield of acetylene increased.(3)With the increase of flow rate,energy yield and space-time yield of acetylene increased first and then decreased.Finally,under the reaction conditions of CH4 flow rate of 700 mL/min,n(CH4)/n(H2)ratio of 1/4 and microwave power of 400 W,the energy yield and space-time yield of acetylene could reach 0.337 mmol/kJ and 12.3 mol/(s m3),respectively.The reaction mechanism of methane coupling in microwave plasma has been investigated based on the thermodynamics of chemical reaction.Interestingly,the acetylene yield of methane coupling in microwave plasma was much higher than the maximum thermodynamic yield of acetylene.This phenomenon was tentatively explained from non-expansion work in the microwave plasma system.     

Determination of C-atom density downstream an Ar-CH4 rf plasma torch

Nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon atoms have been detected by optical emission spectroscopy in a common flowing post-discharge of an Ar-x CH₄ rf plasma torch and an Ar-2%N₂ microwave discharge. Gas temperature as determined from CN and N₂ rotational svstems is 3200 ± 200 K in the rf torch and 700 ± 100 K in the post-discharge at a time 3 X10^–2 s after the rf plasma torch. From the intensities of the N₂ 1st positive system, of NO, and of CN violet hands, the atom densities have been determined as 2 X 10¹⁶ cm³ for N, 10¹⁵ cm³ for O, and 6 X 10¹² cm³ for C in the post-discharge at p=650 torr, with 10³ of CH₄ in the Ar torch.     

大气压等离子体射流重整CH_4-CO_2制合成气

采用大气压等离子体射流,以CH4和CO2直接作为放电气体进行常压下重整制合成气的实验研究,考察了等离子体射流的放电特征及放电距离、放电功率、原料气配比和流量对反应的影响。结果表明,该等离子体具有放电稳定、均匀的特征。重整反应的主要产物为合成气,只有少量的H2O和积炭生成。优化的反应条件为放电距离为9 mm,CH4和CO2的摩尔比为4/6。当原料气流量为1 000 mL/min,放电功率为88.4 W时,CH4和CO2的最高转化率为分别为94.99%和87.23%。甲烷和二氧化碳的转化率随放电功率的增加而增加,随流量的增加而减少。     

大气压等离子体射流重整CH4-CO2制合成气

采用大气压等离子体射流,以CH₄和CO^₂直接作为放电气体进行常压下重整制合成气的实验研究,考察了等离子体射流的放电特征及放电距离、放电功率、原料气配比和流量对反应的影响。结果表明,该等离子体具有放电稳定、均匀的特征。重整反应的主要产物为合成气,只有少量的H₂O和积炭生成。优化的反应条件为放电距离为9mm,CH₄和CO₂的摩尔比为4/6。当原料气流量为1000mL/min,放电功率为88.4W时,CH4和CO₂的最高转化率为分别为94.99%和87.23%。甲烷和二氧化碳的转化率随放电功率的增加而增加,随流量的增加而减少。     

Growth rate studies of CVD diamond in an RF plasma torch

This paper addresses the complex chemistry in the boundary later over a substrate in a chemical vapor deposition rector at atmospheric pressure. In this study, a highspeed plasma (140m/s) was created using a radio-frequency inductively coupled plasma torch for the deposition of diamond thin films. Growth rates on the order of 50 m/ h were obtained for well-faceted continuous films grown on molybdenum substrates positioned normal to the plasma flow. The highest growth rates were obtained at substrate temperatures of 1370 K and a feed gas ratio of 2.5% CH₄ in H₂. Growth rates are compared to predicted results obtained from numerical simulations, based on a one-dimensional stagnation-point flow, and are/mend to be in good agreement. Several other surface analysis techniques were used to characterize the deposited films, inchaling SEA/, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy. Rutherfard backscattering spectroscopy, and hydrogen-forward recoil spectroscopy. Optical emission spectroscopy was used to characterize the RF plasma during the deposition process. Results from these studies form an important database for the validation and improvement of current models of the atmospheric-pressure diamond CVD environment.