Decomposition of Methanol in a Low-pressure DC Glow Discharge

Abstract

Decomposition characteristics of methanol in a low-pressure DC glow discharge in nitrogen-oxygen mixture are investigated by mass spectrometry. We obtained CO, CO2, CH4, C2H2 and HCN as methanol fragments and by-products; C2H2 and HCN are minor intermediate products, and CO, CO2 and CH4 are end products in the discharge. It is found that the yield of CO2 increases with oxygen concentration, but that the yield of CO peaks around the oxygen concentration of 15%.