Hydrogen peroxide production in an atmospheric pressure RF glow discharge: Comparison of models and experiments

The production of H 2 O 2 in an atmospheric pressure RF glow discharge in helium-water vapor mixtures has been investigated as a function of plasma dissipated power, water concentration, gas flow (residence time) and power modulation of the plasma. H 2 O 2 concentrations up to 8 ppm in the gas phase and a maximum energy efficiency of 0.12 g/kWh are found. The experimental results are compared with a previously reported global chemical kinetics model and a one dimensional (1D) fluid model to investigate the chemical processes involved in H 2 O 2 production. An analytical balance of the main production and destruction mechanisms of H 2 O 2 is made which is refined by a comparison of the experimental data with a previously published global kinetic model and a 1D fluid model. In addition, the experiments are used to validate and refine the computational models. Accuracies of both model and experiment are discussed.