The system includes a glow discharge cell connected to a plasma torch. The glow discharge cell includes an electrically conductive cylindrical vessel having an inlet, an outlet, and a hollow electrode. The hollow electrode has an inlet and outlet. A first insulator seals the first end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode and maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode. A non-conductive granular material is disposed within the substantially equidistant gap. The plasma arc torch includes a cylindrical vessel, a tangential inlet connected to the outlet of the electrically conductive vessel of the glow discharge cell, a tangential outlet, an electrode housing connected to the cylindrical vessel such that a first electrode is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and extends into the cylindrical vessel, and a hollow electrode nozzle connected to the cylindrical vessel.