Formation of hydrogen peroxide and degradation of phenol in synergistic system of pulsed corona discharge combined with TiO2 photocatalysis

In the present work, a synergistic system of pulsed corona discharge combined with TiO(2) photocatalysis has been developed to investigate the degradation rate of phenol solutions by varying experimental conditions of gas bubbling varieties (air, O(2), and Ar), solution pH values, and radical scavenger additives. The hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) concentration, which indicated the amount of hydroxyl radicals (OH) in the reaction system under different conditions of gas bubbling varieties and scavenger species, was also reviewed. The obtained results revealed that degradation efficiency of phenol could be increased by the addition of TiO(2) in pulsed discharge system. The gas of Ar and O(2) bubbled into the reaction system was found to be favorable for phenol degradation and H(2)O(2) formation. Both in air bubbling and in O(2) bubbling reaction system, the higher degradation rate of phenol occurred in the case of acidic solution. The addition of sodium carbonate or n-butanol in the solution displayed a negative effect for phenol removal, while the H(2)O(2) concentration showed different changing trend by adding different radical scavengers. The most effective degradation of the three main intermediates of catechol, 1,4-hydroquinone, and 1,4-benzoquinone formed during phenol decomposition existed in the synergistic system of pulsed corona discharge and TiO(2) photocatalysis bubbled with O(2).