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Ozone and hydroxyl radical are the most active oxidizing species in water treated with gas-phase pulsed corona discharge (PCD). The ratio of the species dependent on the gas phase composition and treated water contact surface was the objective for the experimental research undertaken for aqueous phenol (fast reaction) and oxalic acid (slow reaction) solutions. The experiments were carried out in the reactor, where aqueous solutions showered between electrodes were treated with 100-ns pulses of 20 kV voltage and 400 A current amplitude. The role of ozone increased with increasing oxygen concentration and the oxidation reaction rate. The PCD treatment showed energy efficiency surpassing that of conventional ozonation.

Experimental studies of photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) of VX-gas simulation substance cysteamine-S-phosphate sodium salt (NaHPO3S-CH2-CH2-NH2, CPSS) at various initial concentrations and pH were undertaken. PCO ultimately resulted in complete mineralisation of CPSS. The PCO byproducts of CPSS include acetate, oxalate and trace amounts of formate ions. The formation rates of acetate and phosphate were equal to the rate of degradation of CPSS, which indicates easy breakage of P-S, C-S and C-N bonds. Sulphate was formed more slowly due to stepwise oxidation of reduced sulphur. Amino group, generally transformed to ammonia, was partially oxidised to nitrite and nitrate in alkaline media. The fastest mineralisation in terms of both TOC degradation and phosphate formation was observed in neutral media. Under neutral media conditions, the PCO rate increased linearly with the CPSS concentration increase. The maximum efficiency by TOC degradation was observed as large as 77 mg per Wh of incident UV flux with quantum efficiency 3.8%.

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) were oxidized in the gas phase by photocatalytic oxidation (PCO). Transient PCO was carried out at room temperature on TiO2 (Degussa P25), 0.2% Pt-TiO2, and 2% Pt-TiO2 catalysts. Surface-adsorbed reaction by-products were characterized by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and oxidation (TPO). Continuous flow PCO was also carried out at 373 K on TiO2. Acetone, H2O, and CO2 were the gas-phase products for PCO of TBA and MTBE, and formic acid was adsorbed on the TiO2 surface. Temperature-programmed desorption of TBA and MTBE formed 2-methyl-1-propene, water (TBA), and methanol (MTBE). During continuous-flow PCO, acetone desorbed in molar amounts equal to the amount of decomposed TBA and MTBE. The Pt/TiO2 catalysts had higher rates of complete oxidation during PCO and TPO. Injection of water during transient PCO increased the rates of oxidation of adsorbed TBA, formic acid, and acetone. Photocatalytic oxidation of TBA proceeded faster in humid air than dry air, but MTBE oxidation was less sensitive to humidity. The TiO2 catalyst was stable for MTBE, TBA, and acetone PCO at 373 K. The PCO at low conversions followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model.

Improper handling of jet fuel at abandoned military bases has resulted in heavy pollution of the soil and groundwater. Experimental research of photocatalytical oxidation (PCO) of jet fuel aqueous extract and aqueous solutions of de-icing agents was undertaken. The influence of different parameters - pH, concentration of substances to be oxidised, presence of inorganic admixtures, effect of OH. radical generators--on the PCO of solutions of de-icing agents and jet fuel aqueous extract was determined. The role of OH. radicals was found to be less important in determining the PCO rate. The PCO of organic pollutants was also investigated using a catalyst immobilised onto the surface of buoyant hollow glass microspheres. Attached titanium dioxide (TiO2) showed lower photocatalytical activity than when suspended in slurry, although it allows waters to be treated in simple shallow ponds without intensive stirring. The biodegradability of aqueous solutions of de-icing agents and jet fuel aqueous extract increased as PCO proceeded.