Catalytic degradation of organic pollutants by packing activated alumina in high voltage pulsed discharge electric field

To increase the removal rate of organic substance in high voltage discharge process, activated alumina and beading were added between the electrodes with gas aeration in the submerged flow state. The removal rate of phenol increased with adding activated alumina and increasing the applied voltage. Oxygen flowing into the discharge region would promote the removal of phenol obviously. The polarization was more intense with activated alumina filled in the reactor, so more reactive species would be produced. Nevertheless, the enhanced electric field was unconspicuous with beading. The energy consumption of discharge between the electrodes by adding activated alumina was less than discharge in bubbles. The phenol degradation and the discharge condition could be improved by adding activated alumina between the discharge electrodes, which reduced the energy consumption and increased the energy utilization efficiency.