NSF/EPA Technology for a Sustainable Environment: Investigation of a Novel Capillary Non-Thermal, Ambient Pressure Plasma for Cleaning Aluminum Surfaces

NSF/EPA可持续环境技术研究计划的目标是研究开发适合于工业应用的铝表面有机污染物的大气压毛细电极等离子体(AP-CEP)技术所需的等离子体污染物表面化学。这项研究计划是基于一种新的技术，研究人员已经演示了在大气压条件下产生大量非热等离子体。这是通过利用使用特殊设计的阴极配置的自稳定漫射辉光放电来实现的。与现有最先进的等离子体产生技术相比，AP-CEP技术具有三个重要优势：(1)更有效地利用单位体积等离子体的能量；(2)在开发在环境条件下运行的高效、可轻松扩展的反应堆方面的工程简单性；(3)非常小的功率与等离子体体积比，从而导致系统占地面积小，并具有潜在的非常经济高效的技术。将通过以下方式探讨污染物的销毁：(1)AP-CEP在表面清洗中的应用的全面表征；(2)对毛细等离子体在破坏沉积在表面上的碳氢化合物方面的有效性和效率的详细评价和优化；(3)对毛细等离子体处理产生的副产品的评价；(4)对处理后表面的化学和物理变化的评价；(5)对毛细等离子体清洗所需功率的估计；以及(6)与毛细等离子体清洗过程的工业应用相关的参数的确定和确定。这项新技术有可能成为基于溶剂的工艺的一种具有成本效益的替代方案，从而从源头上解决环境问题。

The objective of this NSF/EPA Technology for a Sustainable Environment research program is to investigate the plasma-contaminant-surface chemistry required for the development of the Atmospheric pressure, Capillary Electrode Plasma (AP-CEP) technology suitable for destruction of organic contaminants in aluminum surfaces for industrial applications. The research plan is based upon a novel technique the investigators have demonstrated generating large volume non-thermal plasmas under atmospheric pressure conditions that. This has been accomplished by utilizing a self-stabilizing diffuse glow discharge using a specially designed cathode configuration. The AP-CEP technique offers three important advantages over existing state-of-the-art plasma generation, (1) a more effective energy utilization per unit volume of plasma, (2) engineering simplicity in developing efficient, easily scaleable reactors operating under ambient conditions, and (3) a very small power to plasma volume ratio leading to small system footprint and potentially very cost effective technology. Destruction of contaminants will be explored by performing (1) a comprehensive characterization of the AP-CEP for applications in surface cleaning; (2) a detailed evaluation and optimization of the effectiveness and efficiency of the capillary plasma in the destruction of hydrocarbons deposited on surfaces; (3) an evaluation of by-products resulting from capillary plasma processing; (4) an evaluation of chemical and physical changes in the treated surface; (5) an estimation of the power required for capillary plasma cleaning; and (6) an identification and determination of parameters pertinent to industrial application of the capillary plasma cleaning process. This new technology has the potential to be a cost-effective alternative to solvent-based processes, thus addressing environmental issues at the source.