A halogenated organic compound is introduced into a plasma. In the plasma state, substances are very reactive and chemical substances which are not readily decomposed such as halogenated organic compounds are decomposed in a short time. Specifically, in a high-temperature plasma exceeding 10,000.degree. C., almost all molecules are considered to dissociate into atoms. A reactive substance such as water is introduced into a plasma together with a halogenated organic compound. The decomposed halogenated organic compound is caused to react with the reactive substance, for preventing the decomposed organic compound from returning to its original state.
A method for treating ozone layer depleting substances, in which a gaseous composition comprising helium or argon or a mixture thereof, or a gaseous mixture of argon and acetone, is introduced into a plasma reactor having a dielectric-coated electrode comprising a solid dielectric disposed on the surface of at least one of opposing electrodes, an atmospheric pressure glow discharge is generated in the gaseous atmosphere, gaseous ozone layer depleting substances are introduced into the glow discharge to decompose the substances, and resulting decomposition products are absorbed in water.
A process is disclosed for converting hydrogen chloride (HCl) to molecular chlorine (Cl.sub.2) and molecular hydrogen (H.sub.2), and more particularly to such process conducted in a plasma environment.
A method of treating a fluorocarbon feedstock includes radio frequency induction heating of a zone of a reaction chamber to a temperature not exceeding 950.degree. C. The feedstock heats up in the heating zone, and the reaction chamber pressure and heating zone temperature are chosen so that a fluorocarbon compound present in the feedstock dissociates or depolymerizes into a more desired fluorocarbon compound. A hot product gas, which includes the more desired fluorocarbon compound, is formed and then quenched to stabilize the more desired fluorocarbon compound.
A method and apparatus for generating plasma in a liquid. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic wave generator for generating bubbles in the liquid, and an electromagnetic wave generator for continuously irradiating electromagnetic waves to the liquid from within the liquid in order to generate plasma. The method of generating plasma in a liquid includes the steps of generating bubbles in the liquid by irradiating ultrasonic waves in the liquid, and generating plasma in the bubbles by continuously irradiating electromagnetic waves from within the liquid to the bubbles.
A liquid film stabilized induction plasma torch comprises a cylindrical torch body made of cast ceramic or polymer-matrix composite, a coaxial cylindrical plasma confinement tube mounted inside the torch body, a gas distributor head secured to one end of the torch body to supply the confinement tube with gaseous substances, a cylindrical and coaxial induction coil embedded in the ceramic or polymer-matrix composite of the torch body, and a thin annular chamber separating the coaxial torch body and confinement tube. A high velocity cooling liquid flows through the thin annular chamber. The confinement tube is made of porous ceramic material through which cooling liquid from the annular chamber permeates. The permeating cooling liquid forms on the inner surface of the confinement tube a thin liquid film subjected to the high temperature of the plasma produced in the confinement tube. Cooling liquid from the film is vaporized and the resulting vapor forms the main body of the plasma gas required to operate the plasma torch. The permeable wall induction plasma torch arrangement can be used to generate a plasma of water vapor (steam) and of a wide range of vaporizable liquids. This can also be achieved by means of a hybrid combination of direct current and radio frequency induction plasma torches.
