Study of microwave-induced metal discharge under high pressure based on spectrum analysis

Discharge phenomena can occur when metals are exposed to microwave radiation. The mechanism of the discharge can be effectively studied by using spectral analysis. In this study, a reactor that can withstand long-term high pressure was used in combination with a spectrometer to investigate the effects of pressure and other parameters on the microwave metal discharge plasma. It was observed that the increase of radiation power, pressure, and metal wire diameter can have positive effects on the intensity of spectral lines. If other experimental conditions remain unchanged, the spectral lines and discharge intensity exhibit dynamic changes because the wire melts and changes its shape under the high local temperature associated with discharge. Because factors like radiation power and pressure can enhance the intensity of the plasma significantly, they can be reasonably utilized to accelerate the chemical reactions or improve the degradation rate of pollutants, e.g. in microwave wet oxidation applications.