PlasmODOR

Duration from 1.10.2019 - 30.9.2021, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) under the funding code (FKZ) ZF4037007RE9.

Since many flammable or highly flammable gases, such as natural gas or welding gas, do not have a significant inherent odor, odor-intensive substances are added to them. These warn people in the event of an unwanted gas leak. In gas pressure control and measuring systems with odorization devices, unwanted emissions of odour warning substances occur due to weather conditions. This is harmful to people and the environment and also triggers false alarms. The odorants are not biodegradable and are harmful to aquatic organisms. Up to now, activated carbon filters have been used to contain the odor. This solution is not optimal, as the activated carbon becomes saturated after a certain load and the odorous substances slip out. Against this background, there is a need for a better solution that not only filters out the odorous substances but also breaks them down. Non-thermal plasmas have shown that they are able to oxidize volatile hydrocarbons and other odorous substances. The project is investigating the effect of plasma treatment on practically relevant odorants and developing an approach for use in odorization facilities.