Spectroscopic Diagnostics of an Atmospheric Microwave Plasma for Monitoring Metals Pollution
P. P. Woskov, K. Hadidi, M. C. Borrás, P. Thomas, K. Green, G. J. Flores Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
A 1.5 kW, 2.45 GHz microwave sustained plasma in a flowing sample of stack exhaust gas has been shown in recent DOE/EPA testing to be an accurate monitor of trace hazardous metals (in the part per billion range) such as lead, chromium, and beryllium. Optical-UV spectroscopic studies are being carried out to better understand this particular atmospheric pressure plasma torch.