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Optimization of non-thermal plasma efficiency in the simultaneous elimination of benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylene from polluted airstreams using response surface methodology

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Abstract

Treatment with a non-thermal plasma (NTP) is a new and effective technology applied recently for conversion of gases for air pollution control. This research was initiated to optimize the efficient application of the NTP process in benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylene (BTEX) removal. The effects of four variables including temperature, initial BTEX concentration, voltage, and flow rate on the BTEX elimination efficiency were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). The constructed model was evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The model goodness-of-fit and statistical significance was assessed using determination coefficients (R 2 and R 2 adj) and the F-test. The results revealed that the R 2 proportion was greater than 0.96 for BTEX removal efficiency. The statistical analysis demonstrated that the BTEX removal efficiency was significantly correlated with the temperature, BTEX concentration, voltage, and flow rate. Voltage was the most influential variable affecting the dependent variable as it exerted a significant effect (p < 0.0001) on the response variable. According to the achieved results, NTP can be applied as a progressive, cost-effective, and practical process for treatment of airstreams polluted with BTEX in conditions of low residence time and high concentrations of pollutants.

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Funding

This study (MSc thesis of Mr. Ahmad Hosseinzadeh, grant number: 930617) was funded by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Ali Asghar Najafpoor

  2. Global Center for Environmental Remediation, University of Newcastle, Callagan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Ali Asghar Najafpoor

  3. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Ahmad Jonidi Jafari

  4. Student Research Committee, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, 73119-91376, Iran

    Ahmad Hosseinzadeh

  5. Department of Ergonomics and Industrial Safety, School of Health, Safety and Environment, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Reza Khani Jazani

  6. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

    Hasan Bargozin

Authors
  1. Ali Asghar Najafpoor
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  2. Ahmad Jonidi Jafari
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  3. Ahmad Hosseinzadeh
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  4. Reza Khani Jazani
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  5. Hasan Bargozin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ahmad Hosseinzadeh.

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Responsible editor: Bingcai Pan

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Najafpoor, A.A., Jonidi Jafari, A., Hosseinzadeh, A. et al. Optimization of non-thermal plasma efficiency in the simultaneous elimination of benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylene from polluted airstreams using response surface methodology. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 233–241 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0373-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0373-8

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