On decomposition of CH/sub 4/ and CO/sub 2/ by barrier discharge

Summary form only given, as follows. In the work, keeping in mind of CO/sub 2/ recycle, we tried to clarify the characteristics of decomposition of CH/sub 4/ and CO/sub 2/ by a barrier discharge. The authors measured the mass spectra for CH/sub 4/ and CO/sub 2/ gases decomposed by a barrier discharge by Q-mass. The power supply was an alternating current of about 5 kHz. We experimented with changing the electrode gap and voltage under the condition that the thickness of the dielectric substrate and flow rate of gases were fixed. On decomposition of CH/sub 4/, CH/sub 3/ and CH/sub 4/ decreased, and H/sub 2/, C/sub 2/H/sub 2/, C/sub 2/H/sub 4/ and C/sub 2/H/sub 6/ increased. The relation between rate of increase for H/sub 2/ and C/sub 2/H/sub 2/ and applied voltage is shown as a parameter of electrode gap. The rate of increase for H/sub 2/ and C/sub 2/H/sub 2/ show the linear relation with increasing the applied voltage. The rate of increase became larger with shortening electrode gap. On decomposition of CO/sub 2/, CO and O/sub 2/ increased and CO/sub 2/ didn´t decrease clearly. The quantity of CO was twice it of CO/sub 2/ in gas. CO/sub 2/ decomposed more than CO, because the ionization potential of CO/sub 2/ is 13.7 eV and CO is 14.0 eV. As shown, the change of O/sub 2/ shows convex curve that had the maximum value at about 3800 V. The rate of increase does not depend on the electrode gap. The rate of increase for CO shows gentle increase with increasing the applied voltage. On decomposition of CH/sub 4/ by barrier discharge, CH/sub 3/ and CH/sub 4/ decreased and H/sub 2/, C/sub 2/H/sub 2/, C/sub 2/H/sub 4/ and C/sub 2/H/sub 6/ increased. On decomposition of CO/sub 2/ by barrier discharge, CO and O/sub 2/ increased. The rate of increase for O/sub 2/ shows convex curve that had the maximum value at about 3800 V.