(2017) Environmental Pollution_Air ionization as a control technology for off-gas emissions of volatile organic compounds
 

Kim K.-H., Szulejko J.E., Kumar P., Kwon E.E., Adelodun A.A., Reddy P.A.K.'

(Elsevier Ltd) Environmental Pollution ISSN: 2697491 Vol.225 Issue. Article No. DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.03.026

High energy electron-impact ionizers have found applications mainly in industry to reduce off-gas emissions from waste gas streams at low cost and high efficiency because of their ability to oxidize many airborne organic pollutants (e.g., volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) to CO₂ and H₂O. Applications of air ionizers in indoor air quality management are limited due to poor removal efficiency and production of noxious side products, e.g., ozone (O₃). In this paper, we provide a critical evaluation of the pollutant removal performance of air ionizing system through comprehensive review of the literature. In particular, we focus on removal of VOCs and odorants. We also discuss the generation of unwanted air ionization byproducts such as O₃, NOx, and VOC oxidation intermediates that limit the use of air-ionizers in indoor air quality management. © 2017

This study was supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) (No. 2016R1E1A1A01940995). E. E. Kwon also acknowledges the support of an NRF grant funded by the Korean Government (MSIP) (No. 2014RA1A004893). This research was also supported partially by the R&D Center for Green Patrol Technologies through the R&D for Global Top Environmental Technologies funded by the Ministry of Environment (MOE), Republic of Korea.