Hydrogen peroxide generated by an atmospheric He-O2-H2O flowing post-discharge: production mechanisms and absolute quantification

TL;DR

This study investigates how hydrogen peroxide is produced in an atmospheric plasma torch with helium, water vapor, and oxygen, providing insights into production mechanisms and quantifying H2O2 yields.

Contribution

It offers the first absolute quantification of hydrogen peroxide produced in an atmospheric He-O2-H2O plasma post-discharge and elucidates its formation mechanisms.

Findings

Approximately 9.5 mol of H2O2 produced per 5 mmol water vapor injected

Correlation of mass spectrometry and absorption spectroscopy used for analysis

Mechanisms of H2O2 formation identified and characterized

Abstract

An atmospheric plasma torch has been supplied with a gaseous mixture of helium, water vapour and/or oxygen to study the production of reactive species within its flowing post-discharge, in particular hydrogen peroxide. The mechanisms responsible for the production of H2O2 have been investigated by correlating measurements of mass spectrometry and absorption photospectrometry. An absolute quantification of H2O2 has also been achieved and indicated that for 5 mmol of water vapour injected in the He-H2O discharge, approximately 9.5 mol of H2O2 were produced in post-discharge.