NO2 adsorbed on activated carbon was decomposed efficiently by a simple packed-bed dielectric barrier discharge reactor with a special electrode that could overcome the problems of the regeneration and desorption of NOx and the problems of residues of deeply adsorbed NO2 without a solution and catalyst at atmospheric pressure and relatively low temperatures. In addition, the heat derived from the plasma and plasma-catalytic reaction had a synergetic effect that could influence the decomposition of NOx adsorbed on the carbonaceous adsorbent. Consequently, almost 94% of the adsorbed NO could be decomposed efficiently by dividing the outer electrode called the segmented threaded-electrode. This is a promising technology for NO reduction to substitute for a selective catalytic reduction technology because plasma technology without the use of a chemical solution is eco-friendly. (C) 2020 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.