Catalytic gasification of rice hull by dielectric barrier discharge non-thermal plasma over potassium catalyst

Abstract

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) non-thermal plasma was used for gasification of rice hull. And the gasification efficiency, gas production performance and gasification productions of rice hull were studied in the different atmosphere of the DBD gasification. The effect of the potassium metal on DBD gasification of rice hull was investigated and the catalytic mechanism of potassium was studied by density functional theory calculation. It was found that the gasification efficiency of rice hull by DBD in CO2 atmosphere is up to 87.14%, which is higher than that in the N2 atmosphere. The implantation of the potassium metal can also improve the DBD gasification efficiency, and promote the generation of H2 and CH4. The rice hull loaded with 3% potassium had the best gasification in the CO2 atmosphere. Almost no tar was found during the DBD gasification of rice hull. N2 adsorption and desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were used to investigate the properties of the carbon materials, which was generated from the rice hull gasification. The carbon material which was produced by DBD gasification in CO2 atmosphere had large specific surface area and abundant functional groups. It can be used as catalyst carrier and other fields.