Quantum mechanics

Methane

Catalysis

Engineering

Materials science

Nuclear physics

Glow discharge

Plasma

Syngas

Chemical engineering

Fraction (chemistry)

Atmospheric-pressure plasma

Atmospheric pressure

Acetylene

Physics

Nonthermal plasma

Organic chemistry

Environmental chemistry

Analytical Chemistry (journal)

Kinetics

Chemistry

Meteorology

Carbon dioxide reforming

Journal of CO2 Utilization

We present a confined atmospheric pressure glow discharge plasma reactor, with very good performance towards dry reforming of methane, i.e., CO2 and CH4 conversion of 64 % and 94 %, respectively, at an energy cost of 3.5–4 eV/molecule (or 14–16 kJ/L). This excellent performance is among the best reported up to now for all types of plasma reactors in literature, and is due to the confinement of the plasma, which maximizes the fraction of gas passing through the active plasma region. The main product formed is syngas, with H2O and C2H2 as by-products. We developed a quasi-1D chemical kinetics model, showing good agreement with the experimental results, which provides a thorough insight in the reaction pathways underlying the conversion of CO2 and CH4 and the formation of the different products.

Dry reforming of methane in an atmospheric pressure glow discharge: Confining the plasma to expand the performance