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大气压毛细管电极等离子体（AP-CEP）技术所需的等离子体-污染物-表面化学，该技术适用于工业应用中铝表面有机污染物的破坏。 这项研究计划是基于一种新的技术，研究人员已经证明，在大气压条件下产生大量的非热等离子体，这是通过使用一个特殊设计的阴极配置，利用自稳定的扩散辉光放电。 AP-CEP技术提供了优于现有技术等离子体产生的三个重要优点，（1）每单位体积等离子体的更有效的能量利用，（2）在开发在环境条件下操作的有效的、容易缩放的反应器方面的工程简单性，以及（3）非常小的功率与等离子体体积比，导致小的系统占地面积和潜在的非常成本有效的技术。 污染物的破坏将通过以下方式进行探索：（1）全面表征AP-CEP在表面清洁中的应用;（2）详细评估和优化毛细管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;（3）评估毛细管等离子体处理产生的副产品;（4）评估处理表面的化学和物理变化;（5）估计毛细管等离子体清洗所需的功率;和（6）识别和确定与毛细管等离子体清洗工艺的工业应用有关的参数。这项新技术有可能成为溶剂型工艺的一种具有成本效益的替代方法，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.