To generate a nonthermal plasma at atmospheric pressure, a working gas (molecular or inert gas, e.g. air, nitrogen, argon, helium) is passed through an electric field. Electrons originating from ionization processes can be accelerated in this field to trigger impact ionization processes. If more free electrons are produced during this process than are lost, a discharge can build up. The degree of ionization in technically used plasmas is usually very low, typically a few per mille or less. The electrical conductivity generated by these free charge carriers is used to couple in electrical power. When colliding with other gas atoms or molecules, the free electrons can transfer their energy to them and thus generate highly reactive species that act on the material to be treated (gaseous, liquid, solid). The electron energy is sufficient to split covalent bonds in organic molecules. The energy required to split single bonds is in the range of about 1.5 - 6.2 eV, for double bonds in the range of about 4.4 - 7.4 eV and for triple bonds in the range of 8.5 - 11.2 eV . For gases that can also be used as process gases, dissociation energies are e.g. 5.7 eV (O2) and 9.8 eV (N2)