The application of low-pressure low-temperature hydrogen plasma on artificial corrosion layers on bronze has been studied. For this purpose, three sets of bronze corroded samples were prepared. The first step of the model sample preparation was grinding of the bronze surface by using emery with 60, then 280 and finally by 600 grains density, in order to achieve the defined surface roughness. The next step of the work were optical and scanning electron microscopy observations with energy dispersive X-ray micro analysis (SEM-EDX) of the prepared bronze sample for purpose of surface structure characterization and element composition determination. Bronze samples with defined surface structure were corroded in different corrosion atmospheres. Three different model corrosion layers were formed by acidic atmospheres of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and sulphuric acid. The element composition and structure of corrosion layer was determined by SEM-EDX again. The different amounts of oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, sulfur, copper, tin and lead in the corrosion layer according to different types of corrosion atmospheres were determined. The next and also main part of the work was a plasma chemical reduction of corroded samples. The plasma reactor used the RF discharge (13.56 MHz) created in quartz tube with outer electrodes. The generation of capacitively coupled plasma in continuous or pulse mode by different supplied power was carried out. The plasma radiation emitted from the RF discharge during the sample treatment was measured by optical emission spectroscopy. The quantity of OH radical created in an active discharge by reactions of atomic hydrogen with the corrosion layer is a significant indicator of a reduction process. Therefore the OH radical band integral intensities observed as a function of the treatment time were used as a monitor for plasma chemical reduction process. The OH emission showed different behavior depending on corrosion layer composition during the plasma treatment. The transformations of the corrosion layer due to the plasma effect were investigated by means of SEM-EDX once again. Changes in the element composition of corrosion (or surface) layers in consequence of plasma chemical treatment are given. Generally, the element composition after the plasma chemical treatment showed explicitly that oxygen and chlorine content in the corrosion layer decreased, nitrogen was removed totally. Metal deposition on the reactor wall was observed occasionally. The SEM-EDX analyzes also showed that in some cases the tin content in sample surface layers was significantly decreased. For that reason, in case of bronze sample (artifacts) treatment, the sample and plasma temperature seem to be very important parameters for the process optimization. The acceptable conditions for plasma chemical treatment has been found in case of corrosion layer formed by nitric acid, only. The other corrosions will be a subject of further studies.

Plasmachemical processes are one of the methods used for wastewater treatment. Sewage and household wastewaters include a variety of organic substances that must be removed to reuse water in industry or households. The aim of this diploma thesisisthe observation of alkaloids decomposition by plasma chemical process. The theoretical part is focused on plasma generation in liquids and characterization of selected alkaloids. The decomposition of caffeine and quinine in direct current electrical discharge in liquid with diaphragm configuration is investigated in this work. The experiments were carried out in a batch reactor divided into two parts by a diaphragm made from ceramic material ShapalTM-M (thickness 3.0 mm, pin-hole diameter 1.0 mm). The stainless steel electrodes of 5×12 cm size were used. The mean electric power was set to 135 W for an operation time of 60 minutes in each experiment. Caffeine solutions (total volume of 4 L) were prepared in concentrations of 10, 25 and 50 ppm, quinine solutions in concentrations of 5, 10 and 15 ppm. The initial conductivity was adjusted by sodium chloride at three different values – 400, 750 or 1000 µS•cm-1. The experimental part consisted also of using analytical methods necessary for compound quantification. Hydrogen peroxide formation during the electrical discharge was determined by colorimetric method based on generation of yellow complex with titanium(IV) sulfate reagent. The caffeine concentration was measured by UV spectrometric method at wavelength 273 nmand thenHPLC/MS analysis was performed. Quinine degradation was monitored by UV-VIS spectrometry and fluorescent measurements. The plasma generation in water solutions induces formation of hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, oxygen, hydrogen and other reactive species. Hydrogen peroxide is produced and then utilized in degradation of organic compounds and thus lower concentration of H2O2was measured in solution with caffeine and quinine than in solution without alkaloids. However, the situation is different between cathode chamber and anode chamber. There is only negligible amount of H2O2used on degradation in cathode chamber. In contrary, the considerable degradation of caffeine and quinine and diminished concentration of H2O2 was observed in anode chamber.

The present diploma thesis concerns the research of plasmachemical reduction of copper corrosion layers. The process was based on using low pressure hydrogen RF plasma in which copper samples are treated for several hours. Four series of copper corrosion layers were prepared in four different corrosion atmospheres. The first two were prepared using saturated vapors of HCl and ammonium acetate that affected copper samples for one week. The second two sets were prepared by samples dipping in HNO3 and H2SO4. EDX analysis confirms visual composition of corrosion layers – chlorides, nitrides and sulphate, respectively. The ammonium acetate produced no corrosion layers and thus this set of samples was omitted. The optical emission spectroscopy was used to find out reactions in a hydrogen RF discharge. At the first, a character of plasma without samples was taken by measuring in continuous and pulsed regime. The integral spectrum intensity (300-700 nm) and intensities of hydrogen atomic lines were observed in the dependences on hydrogen flow, power and duty cycle. After that copper samples were treaded under various conditions in continual and pulse regime, typically at pressure of 170 Pa, 200 W power and hydrogen flow rate of 10.2 ml/min. The integral OH radical spectral intensity in the range of 305 – 330 nm was used as a monitor of plasma treatment process. The experimental results showed that intensities of OH radical depended strongly on the corrosion layer kind as well as on the RF discharge mode. Reduction of corrosion layers treated in the pulsed regime was not so satisfactory then in the continuous regime probably due to lower temperature of sample during the treatment. The total supplied energy into the system was also lower in this case. The sample sputtering was observed during the reduction in continuous regime. It means the corrosion was successfully removed but the process was not stopped at that moment, so it is necessary to propose another additional monitoring process besides observing OH radicals. Our experimental results are the first step in the spread research of plasmachemical treatment of copper made archaeological artifacts.

The main topic of this Diploma thesis is the application of low-pressure low-temperature hydrogen plasma for the treatment model samples of rusted brass. Plasmachemical treatment of metallic artifacts is a relatively new way how to remove corrosion of artifacts. The temperature of an object should not exceed 150 °C during the treatment. Corrosion layers were prepared in an ammoniac corrosion atmosphere. The corrosion formation took two weeks. Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis has shown that the corrosion layer was formed by carbon, oxygen, copper, zinc, and lead. The corrosion layers were blue-colored with white crystals on the surface. Except those two colors, brown color was observed on corrosion layers, too. The plasma reactor was a quartz tube with outer copper electrodes and supplied by the RF source of 13.54 MHz. The reactive atomic hydrogen was formed in plasma discharge. This atomic hydrogen reacted with the corrosive layer containing oxygen. This reaction created an unstable OH radical, which emitted light in the region of 305–320 nm. This radiation was detected by the optical emission spectroscopy and it was applied as process monitoring quantity. Rotational temperature and intensity of OH radicals were determined from obtained data. The sample temperature was measured by thermocouple installed inside the sample volume. Rusted samples were treated by low-pressure low-temperature hydrogen plasma. 16 samples were treated at different conditions – plasma power was 100 W, 200 W, 300 W, and 400 W at continuous mode and pulse mode with duty cycle of 25 %, 50 %, and 75 %. The pressure was between 140–160 Pa at hydrogen flow rate of 50 sccm. Samples after plasmachemical treatment were grey colored with white crystals on their surface. Corrosion layers were removed by spatula. The corrosion layers of some samples were easy removable, some others were difficult. Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis, which was carried out after the treatment of 2 selected samples (400 W, 50% pulse mode and 400 W, 75% pulse mode), showed different amounts of carbon, oxygen, copper, zinc, and lead compared to the rusted sample. Other elements in the treated layer were silicon, sulfur, chlorine, and fluorine.