Fragmentation of Toluene by Non-Thermal Plasmas in Liquids

Abstract

The influence of the energy of low-voltage discharges in the liquid phase on the directions of fragmentation of toluene is studied. The discharges were generated by a 60 V DC source with a capacitor of 90 μF, 20090 μF, and 40090 μF. Fragmentation of toluene leads to the formation of carbon structures on the surface of graphite electrodes and in a liquid medium. It was revealed that an increase in the power of electric discharges leads to the growth of carbon structures on the surface of electrodes, reduces the output of the gas phase and finely dispersed carbon structures. The morphology and composition of solid phase products were determined by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Nanosized carbon structures are obtained in the form of aggregates - carbon nanohorns, which actively adsorb oxygen (content 0.9-3.6 at%). The composition of gaseous products was determined by gas chromatography. It was revealed that with an increase in the power of electric discharges, the hydrogen content slightly increases from 74.8 to 75.15 mol%, methane from 5.86 to 6.55 mol%, neopentane from 0.02 to 0.55 mol%. At the same time, the acetylene content in gaseous products decreases from 18.14 to 16.36 mol%.