Discharge　characteristics　and　abatement　of　volatile　organic　compounds　using　plasma　reactor　packed　with　ceramic　Raschig　rings　were　investigated.　It　was　found　that　the　gap　equivalent　capacitance　decreased　with　increasing　voltage　while　the　dielectric　barrier　equivalent　capacitance　increased　initially　and　stabilized　at　about　700　pF.　Compared　with　empty　reactor,　toluene　removal　was　significantly　enhanced　by　ceramic　Raschig　rings,　97%　against　48%.　With　respect　to　the　energy　yield　in　the　presence　of　padding,　the　efficiency　was　remarkably　improved　up　to　10　g/kWh,　which　was　2　times　higher　than　that　of　5　g/kWh　in　the　absence　of　padding　with　removal　ratio　exceeding　50%.　Crown　Copyright　(c)　2013　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.