To study the efficiency of the removal of vapors of volatile organic compounds from air flows when processed by a plasma of pulsed discharges, a method of competing reactions is proposed. Using a compound with known parameters in the model mixture, it is possible to estimate similar parameters of other compounds using a chromatographic method of analysis that does not have a high temporal resolution. By the example of styrene and methyl methacrylate vapors, it was shown that for unsaturated compounds their relative reactivity in the discharge plasma correlates well with the ratio of the rate constants of their reactions with ozone.

Based on the method of competing reactions, a method for determining the relative reactivity of aromatic vapors in relation to the plasma components of a pulsed corona discharge is developed. The parameters of the relative reactivity of aromatic compounds in the air and nitrogen stream were obtained using model mixtures based on benzene, toluene, and xylene with a content of 250-500 ppm. The effect of water vapor on the process is shown. The obtained data will be useful for optimizing the processes of plasma-chemical air purification from the vapors of toxic aromatic compounds.

A study was made of the relative reactivity of vapors of a number of acetic acid esters (alkyl acetates) with respect to plasma components of a pulsed corona discharge with a voltage of 100 kV and a duration of 40 ns. On model mixtures based on methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, isopropyl, isobutyl-, butyl-, and vinyl acetate with a content of 250–500 ppm in air and nitrogen, the relative reactivity parameters were obtained. The reactivity of acetic acid esters increases with an increase in the hydrocarbon substituent. The high reactivity of vinyl acetate is due to the double bond reaction with ozone.

The effect of electronegative additives on the conversion of toxic impurities in plasma of air mixtures was studied. Using the example of the conversion of trichloroethylene C2HCl3 in air under the influence of pulsed corona discharge of nanosecond duration, it was shown that the addition of carbon tetrachloride CCl4 to the mixture leads not only to a decrease in the discharge current, but also to an increase in energy efficiency of the conversion of C2HCl3. The analysis of processes in various areas of the corona discharge is carried out.