Use of a non-thermal plasma for the production of synthesis gas from biogas Original Research Article

The conversion of biogas (mixture CH4/CO2: 60/40) was studied using pulsed dielectric barrier discharges at different temperatures. The influence of the presence of a catalyst obtained after reduction of the perovskite LaNiO3 was reported. The main products of the reaction were hydrogen and carbon monoxide, but hydrocarbons such as: C2H6, C2H4, C2H2, C3H8, trace amounts of C4 to C6, and oxygenate compounds: methanol, ethanol, and acetone, were also formed.The conversion increased with the temperature, the selectivity of light hydrocarbons (C2, C3, and C4) is maximum at 673 K. When the temperature is higher than 673 K, CO production is favoured resulting most probably from the reaction between deposited carbon and an active oxygen species. The results showed that the plasma catalyst association facilitates the CO2 activation and influences the product selectivities. It is possible to admit that the metallic nickel species react as “radicals trap”, while the basicity of the La2O3 favours the activation of CO2 increasing the CO selectivity as soon as discharge plasma are combined with the catalyst.