Plasma reforming of aliphatic hydrocarbons with CO2

CO₂ reforming of methane, propane, and neopentane was investigated with a ferroelectric packed bed reactor in N₂ at different temperatures. No chemical interaction was observed between these hydrocarbons and CO₂ in nonthermal plasma, and their conversions decreased with an increase in the counterpart hydrocarbon or CO₂. H₂ yield also decreased with an increase in CO₂ concentration. CO was formed both from CO₂ and CH₄, and its yield decreased with an increase in CH₄ concentration. The molar ratio of H₂ to CO depended on substrate hydrocarbon and reaction temperature, and decreased with increases in CO₂ concentration and reactor energy density. The reactivity of the hydrocarbon decreased in the order: propane > neopentane > methane. With an increase in reaction temperature, hydrocarbon conversion and H₂ yield increased. Reaction temperature controls the subsequent and thermal processes of secondary decomposition of hydrocarbon and product formation, which are induced by radicals generated in situ.