Plasma–catalytic hybrid system using spouted bed with a gliding arc discharge: CH4 reforming as a model reaction

Abstract

A combination of a gliding arc discharge and a spouted catalytic bed was used to investigate a plasma–catalytic hybrid system using CH4 reforming as a model reaction. Alumina-supported catalysts that contained 0.5 wt% of Pt, Pd, Rh, and Ru (denoted as Pt/Al2O3, Pd/Al2O3, Rh/Al2O3 and Ru/Al2O3, respectively) were used. For comparison, active Al2O3 particles were also examined. The conversion of CH4 and the selectivity of the product were investigated by changing the feed flow rate and reaction time. The production of C2H2, H2 and soot was observed in the gliding arc discharge without a catalyst. Using Pt/Al2O3 and Pd/Al2O3with the gliding arc discharge, C2H4, C2H6 and C2H2 were produced. It is considered that C2H4 and C2H6 were formed by the hydrogenation of C2H2 on the active site of Pt/Al2O3 and Pd/Al2O3. A stronger resistance to deactivation was shown in the presence of Pd/Al2O3 than in the presence of Pt/Al2O3, whereas the selectivity of hydrocarbon using Rh/Al2O3 and Ru/Al2O3 showed a tendency similar to that in active Al2O3 and non-catalytic experiments. The proposed reactor has a potential to improve the selectivity of the plasma process.