The aim of this work is to study a reactor submitted to a gaseous flow, using gliding
discharges along several divergent electrodes supplied by an AC high voltage power supply. This
reactor was used for the treatment of gaseous pollutants (such as hydrogen sulfide H2S) generally
contained in industrial effluents.
A systematic survey of the sulfide hydrogen destruction yield was undertaken according to
several variables (H2S initial concentration, hygrometry, gas flow rate, electric power, shape of
the electrodes...). We have pointed out also the importance of the residence time of pollutants in
the reactor. The best conditions for treatment were defined for the available power supply. A
minimum energy density in the 0.1−0.18 kWh/m3 range and a destruction yield > 95% were
obtained for a 100 ppmv H2S initial concentration.
Finally, we started a discussion about the formulation of the reactional mechanisms
leading to the H2S removal and about the energy distribution inside the reactor.