Electron-beam technology is based on using radical reactions to destroy air pollutants. Twenty volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were irradiated with electron beams in a laboratory-scale apparatus to examine the influence of the chemical structures of the VOCs from an energetic point of view. The experiments showed that the electron-beam energy required for 90% treatment could be roughly estimated from their chemical structures. The unification of a self-shielding electron accelerator with a reactor could reduce capital costs for electron-beam systems. Electron-beam technology is a promising method for the treatment of VOCs.