Mechanism of Decane Decomposition in a Pulsed Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor

Abstract

Decane decomposition in Ar, N2, and O2/N2 gases was investigated using a pulsed dielectric barrier discharge reactor. The mechanism of decomposition was discussed on the basis of the products detected by gas chromatograph (GC) and GC-mass spectrometer techniques. Decane decomposition in Ar was initiated by dehydrogenation to form decane radicals, which were then dehydrogenated to yield decenes, lighter hydrocarbons. When O2 was present in the discharge space, decane radicals were oxidized to decanone, CO, and CO2. The oxidation mechanism of decane radicals to CO and CO2 was suggested due to the radical oxidation by O atoms and OH radicals. Nanoparticles were found in a size range of 5.5–160 nm. The sizes of the nanoparticles were different with the gas components due to the difference in the produced radicals in the discharge space. We proposed that the oxidation and nitridation of the decane led to the formation of the nanoparticles.