The present invention relates to both a method and a device for removing Volatile
Organic Compounds (VOC) from gaseous streams in conduits, chimneys and/or exhaust
ducts. The method is especially useful in eliminating a large variety of pollutants,
and especially organic odorous pollutants such as mercaptans and sulfurous compounds.
The method is based on the principle of direct oxidation of the pollutants by ozone
and the conversion of these pollutants into non-harmful products, and comprises
the steps of: a) providing an electrical corona discharge reactor capable of producing
ozone; b) supplying an electric current to the corona discharge reactor; and c)
causing the gaseous effluents to flow through the reactor. With this method, the
volatile organic compounds contained in the gaseous effluents are oxidised by the
ozone produced by the corona discharge reactor. The present invention also relates
to a device for reducing this method into practice, this device being a corona
discharge reactor comprising two concentric electrodes producing ozone.
