12 - Combination of atmospheric pressure plasma with catalysts for dry reforming of methane to value-added chemicals

Abstract

Nonthermal plasma is a promising technique to overcome the thermodynamic obstacle for dry reforming of methane (DRM) to syngas or liquid fuel at low-temperature ranges. Due to energetic electrons and exciting species, the nonthermal plasma is capable of reactive reactants and catalysts at low temperatures and atmospheric pressures. Among the nonthermal plasmas, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) has a great potential for large-scale applications of simple configuration and facilitated catalyst integration. However, low energy efficiency for the DRM is a disadvantage in a DBD coupled with a catalyst process. The energy efficiencies can be improved with microwave or gliding arc plasma possess, due to the desired characteristics of free electrons and higher gas temperature to enhanced the synergistic effects of plasma with catalysts; however, their complexity and difficulty in integrating catalysts greatly limit their industrial applications. Appropriated plasma-catalyst is also a critical step toward the realization of plasma catalysis for industrial DRM due to deactivate catalyst by coke formation is still occur with a plasma-catalyst system. Overall above obstacles of a plasma-catalyst, nonthermal plasma-catalysis is potential practical applications for DRM, owing to fast starting/reactions, intermittent discharge, and facilitated integration with the renewable energy system, especially when excessive charge capacity.