Novel Catalytic Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor for Gas-Phase Abatement of Isopropanol

Catalytic gas-phase abatement of air containing 250 ppm of isopropanol (IPA) was carried out with a novel dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor with the inner catalytic electrode made of sintered metal fibers (SMF). The optimization of the reactor performance was carried out by varying the voltage from 12.5 to 22.5 kV and the frequency in the range 200–275 Hz. The performance was significantly improved by modifying SMF with Mn and Co oxide. Under the experimental conditions used, the MnO _x /SMF showed a higher activity towards total oxidation of IPA as compared to CoO _x /SMF and SMF electrodes. The complete destruction of 250 ppm of IPA was attained with a specific input energy of ∼235 J/L using the MnO _x /SMF catalytic electrode, whereas, the total oxidation was achieved at 760 J/L. The better performance of the MnO _x /SMF compared to other catalytic electrodes suggests the formation of short-lived active species on its surface by the in-situ decomposition of ozone.     

Plasma-catalytic Reactor for Decomposition of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons

The conversion of trichloromethane in mixtures with air was investigated under normal pressure in a gliding discharge (GD) reactor operated in both a homogeneous gas system and with a solid catalyst. The Pt catalyst supported by a honey-comb cordierite structure was placed in the reactor below the ends of the electrodes. Cl₂ and HCl were the main products of the CHCl₃ conversion. The presence of CCl₄ was also noted. The influence of the electrode length and the distance between the electrodes in the narrowest section on CHCl₃ conversion was examined. The Pt catalyst revealed some activity in the trichloromethane processing. This resulted in an increased overall CHCl₃ conversion with the portion of CHCl₃ converted to CCl₄ smaller than that in the homogeneous system. The effect of temperature on CHCl₃ conversion was found to be significant.     

By-Products NOx Control and Performance Improvement of a Packed-Bed Nonthermal Plasma Reactor

NO_x are main toxic by-products in the effluent gas whendecomposing volatile organic compounds in air by a packed-bed plasmareactor. Several types of materials such as 13X zeolite, BaTiO₃and Pd/Pt catalysts have been selected to be packed in the reactor, andmethane decomposition and NOx by-products in discharged gases areinvestigated at different range of reaction temperature and dischargeenergy density at atmospheric pressure. The ratios of methane decompositionpercentage/NO_x concentration are used to assess these packed bedmaterials and reaction conditions. The results show that usingPd/-Al₂O₃ with lower percentage Pd as packedbed, and discharging with lower discharge density at higher reactiontemperature can reduce NO_x output effectively and greatly improveperformance of the reactor.     

Decomposition of Cyanogen Chloride by Using a Packed Bed Plasma Reactor at Dry and Wet Air in Atmospheric Pressure

The decomposition rate of CNCl in a BaTiO₃-filled Packed Bed Plasma Reactor was studied as a function of AC input power, power frequency, residence time in the reactor, and inlet flow rate. The decomposition rate was compared with those of CH₃CN and CCl₂CHCl. Under the condition of 6.7 Wh/m³ specific energy den- sity, the decomposition rate of CNCl was found to be 50%, which is lower than those of CH₃CN and CCl₂CHCl at the same or similar conditions. At a higher frequency of the power input system, the decomposition rate of inlet gas becomes lower due to a decrease in field strength for the same level of power. And, under the same level of input power, a higher decomposition rate was obtained at an increased residence time. The relation between gas decomposition rates stemmed from the electron–molecule collision and bounding energy within the molecule. The decomposition ratio of CNCl was lower than those of CCl₂CHCl and CH₃CN because the bond strength of the weakest bond in the molecule is higher. In order to test the decomposition efficiency of CNCl with catalytic packing material in a plasma reactor, the catalyst of γ-Al₂O₃ and Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ was packed in the packed bed plasma reactor. Although byproducts were formed, the plasma-catalyst hybrid reactor containing Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ showed a higher efficiency in CNCl decomposition as shown in the decomposition rate of above 99% in 0.3 kWh/m³.     

Oxidation of Dilute Benzene in an Alumina Hybrid Plasma Reactor at Atmospheric Pressure

The combination of plasma discharge and adsorption was examined for oxidation of dilute benzene in air in a plasma reactor packed with a mixture of BaTiO ₃ pellets and porous Al ₂ O ₃ pellets (i.e., an alumina hybrid reactor). The oxidative decomposition of benzene was enhanced by the benzene concentrating on the Al ₂ O ₃ pellets. Furthermore, there was a higher selectivity to CO ₂ in the products from the hybrid than from a plasma reactor packed with BaTiO ₃ pellets alone. The presence of the Al ₂ O ₃ pellets suppressed the formation of N ₂ O.     

非平衡等离子体放电模式及反应器结构对氨气分解制氢的影响

在常压下研究了不同等离子体放电模式及反应器结构对氨分解制氢反应的影响.实验中调节反应器结构分别产生了介质阻挡放电和交流弧放电两种放电模式.通过对两种放电模式的放电图像、电压-电流波形和氨分解过程中等离子体区活性物种的发射光谱(OES)研究发现,与介质阻挡放电相比,交流弧放电为局部强放电,具有更高的电源效率和电子密度.因此,在介质阻挡放电中氨气分子大部分通过生成电子激发态物种NH3*,再与载能电子碰撞断裂N―H键进行氨分解反应;而在交流弧放电中载能电子具有更高的平均电子能量,可直接断裂氨气分子的N―H键生成NH2和NH等高活性物种,促进氨分解反应的进行.结果表明,交流弧放电的氨分解效果要明显优于介质阻挡放电.在交流弧放电模式下不同类型反应器对氨气分解转化率由高到低的顺序为:管-管管-板针-板板-板.在输入功率为30 W,气隙间距为6 mm时,管-管交流弧放电的氨气转化率达到60%左右,而板-板介质阻挡放电的氨气转化率仅为4%.     

Research On a Ceramics Membrane Reactor for Natural Gas Conversion

We explore the new concept for a ceramics membrane reactor including the investigation of the nickel-based catalysts for methane conversion into synthesis gas and the exploitation of an oxide ionic and electronic mixed conductor. When Ca_0.8Sr_0.2Ti_1−xFe_xO_3−α exhibiting the ionic and electronic mixed conduction was used as a support material of Ni based catalyst, coke formation over the catalyst under the methane conversion with air or carbon dioxide was strongly depended on the iron (III) ion contents, x. From the relationship between the amount of carbon deposited on the catalyst and the mixed conduction in support oxide materials, it was suggested that the self-migration of lattice oxygen inside the support regulated by the balance between the oxide ionic and electronic conductivities played an important role to prevent from accumulating the deposited carbon over the catalysts. In addition, we demonstrated the methane conversion into synthesis gas at 1173 K with one component ceramics membrane reactor constructed with the same type of perovskite-type oxide for both the catalyst supported and mixed conductor.     

Pilot-Scale Experiment for Simultaneous Dioxin and NO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> Removal from Garbage Incinerator Emissions Using the Pulse Corona Induced Plasma Chemical Process

A pilot-scale pulse corona induced plasma chemical process (PPCP) reactor for controlling gas-phase dioxins and NO _x simultaneously is installed in a garbage incineration plant. The flow rate of the sampled flue gas is 5,000 Nm³/h (N: standard state) in maximum at the PPCP reactor, which consists of 22 wire-cylinder electrodes and is energized by a 50 kW nanosecond pulse high voltage generator. With an applied plasma energy density of 2.9–6.1 Wh/Nm³, the decomposition efficiency for dioxins is 75–84% based on TEQ (toxic equivalents); the conversion efficiency of NO to NO₂ is ~93% at maximum. The flue gas treated by the PPCP reactor is introduced at a rate of 50 Nm³/h to a wet-type chemical reactor, which uses an aqueous solution of sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃). More than 90% of NO _x is reduced to nitrogen, with negligible byproducts such as NO₂ ⁻ or NO₃ ⁻ ions left in the solution.     

Methane Decomposition in a Barium Titanate Packed-Bed Nonthermal Plasma Reactor

The behavior of lattice oxygen species of the ferroelectric material during methane oxidation was investigated using a nonthermal plasma reactor packed with BaTiO ₃ pellets. Lattice oxygen species in BaTiO ₃ play an important role in the formation of N ₂ O and the oxidation of CH ₄ . The oxidation products such as CO and CO ₂ were formed from independent reaction pathways. Lattice oxygen species were able to preferentially oxidize the carbon species deposited on the pellet surface into CO. Also, N ₂ O and NO _x were independently formed in the N ₂–O ₂ reaction, suggesting that different oxygen species give N ₂ O and NO _x. N ₂ O was produced by the oxidation of molecular nitrogen with lattice oxygen species.     

Reduction of NO x /SO2 by Wire-plate Type Pulsed Discharge Reactor with Pulsed Corona Radical Shower

Pulsed discharge deNO _x /deSO₂ process has been studied for over 20 years, but how to achieve higher removal rate at lower cost remains one of the crucial issues for realization of its industrial application. This paper presents a novel deNO _x /deSO₂ process that combines a wire-plate type pulsed discharge reactor and a corona radical shower. Our aim is to increase the deNO _x /deSO₂ rate of wire-plate type reactor by enhancing the generation of radicals with pulsed corona radical shower. Effect of a nozzle electrode on the production of OH radical was studied by emissive spectrum, and deNO _x /deSO₂ experiments using a wire-plate reactor with pulsed corona radical shower were conducted. The experimental results demonstrated that corona radical shower could enhance the production of radicals and the deNO _x /SO₂ performance of a wire-plate reactor. This study will play a positive role in the industrial application of wire-plate pulsed discharge deNO _x /deSO₂ reactor.     

Decomposition of Toluene and Acetone in Packed Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactors

The influences of TiO₂ catalytic material and glass pellet packing on the decomposition efficiency of toluene and acetone in air by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactors were experimentally investigated in this study. The effects of both packing materials on the formation of byproducts such as CO and CO₂ were also evaluated. Experimental results indicate that the introduction of glass materials into the plasma zone of a wire-tube reactor would improve the decomposition efficiency of toluene and acetone compared to a nonpacked reactor. The apparent decomposition rate constant of a glass packed-bed reactor was 4.5–4.8 times greater than that of a nonpacked reactor. The results also indicate that the decomposition rate constant of toluene was approximately 2.6 times higher than that of acetone no matter which type reactor was utilized. The application of TiO₂ coated pellets in DBD reactors will enforce the hydrocarbon byproducts to further be oxidized to CO₂, notwithstanding, it will not significantly improve the performance of the reactors in the decomposition of toluene and acetone, and in the formation of CO. The results show that the best selectivity of CO₂ for acetone decomposition in a TiO₂ coated pellets packed-bed reactor was approximately 40% higher than that in a glass packed-bed reactor.     

Humidity Effect on Toluene Decomposition in a Wire-plate Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor

Laboratory-scale experiments were performed to evaluate the humidity effect on toluene decomposition by using a wire-plate dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The toluene decomposition efficiency as well as the carbon dioxide selectivity with/without water in a gas stream of N₂ with 5% O₂ was investigated. Under the optimal humidity of 0.2% the characteristics of toluene decomposition in various background gas, including air, N₂ with 500 ppm O₂, and N₂ with 5% O₂ were observed. In addition, the influence of a catalyst on the decomposition was studied at selected humidities. It was found that the optimum toluene removal efficiency was achieved by the gas stream containing 0.2% H₂O, since the presence of water enhanced the CO₂ selectivity. In addition, the toluene removal efficiency increased significantly in a dry gas stream but decreased with an increase in the humidity when the Co₃O₄/Al₂O₃/nickel foam catalyst was introduced into the discharge area.     

Pyrolysis and Oxidation of Methane in a RF Plasma Reactor

The chemical kinetic effects of RF plasma on the pyrolysis and oxidation of methane were studied experimentally and computationally in a laminar flow reactor at 100 Torr and 373 K with and without oxygen addition into He/CH₄ mixtures. The formation of excited species as well as intermediate species and products in the RF plasma reactor was measured with optical emission spectrometer and Gas Chromatography and the data were used to validate the kinetic model. The kinetic analysis was performed to understand the key reaction pathways. The experimental results showed that H₂, C₂ and C₃ hydrocarbon formation was the major pathways for plasma assisted pyrolysis of methane. In contrast, with oxygen addition, C₂ and C₃ formation dramatically decreased, and syngas (H₂ and CO) became the major products. The above results revealed oxygen addition significantly modified the chemistry of plasma assisted fuel pyrolysis in a RF discharge. Moreover, an increase of E/n was found to be more beneficial for the formation of higher hydrocarbons while a small amount of oxygen was presented in a He/CH₄ mixture. A reaction path flux analysis showed that in a RF plasma, the formation of active species such as CH₃, CH₂, CH, H, O and O (¹D) via the electron impact dissociation reactions played a critical role in the subsequent processes of radical chain propagating and products formation. The results showed that the electronically excitation, ionization, and dissociation processes as well as the products formation were selective and strongly dependent on the reduced electric field.     

Effect of Water Vapor on Benzene Decomposition Using a Nonthermal-Discharge Plasma Reactor

The effect of water vapor on benzene decomposition in air was investigatedusing a nonthermal-discharge plasma reactor packed with ferroelectricmaterials. The conversion of benzene was found to decrease with an increaseof water concentration. On the other hand, the selectivity to CO₂ in thedecomposition products increased with an increase of water concentration. Acomparison between the benzene conversion to CO and CO₂ suggested that COformation was suppressed by water to a greater extent than was CO₂formation. N₂O formation also decreased with an increase of waterconcentration. These results suggest that the activity of oxygen speciesresponsible for the formation of CO and N₂O is reduced by water.     

Oxygen evolution on aged IrO x /Ti electrodes in alkaline solutions

O₂ evolution from 1 mol dm⁻¹ NaOH aqueous solution was studied on IrO _x /Ti electrodes already used for more than 3 years (aged). IrO _x was prepared by thermal decomposition of the chloride in the temperature range from 330 to 500 °C. Half of the electrodes were stored in air between experiments, the other half in water. The state of the electrode surface was monitored by recording voltammetric curves in a potential region prior to O₂ evolution before and after each group of experiments. O₂ evolution was studied by measuring quasistationary current–potential curves. Tafel slopes were derived using two different approaches. The reaction order with respect to OH⁻ was also determined and found to be fractional. Results show that the reaction mechanism does not depend on either the calcination temperature or the storage conditions. However, stability appears to be higher for electrodes calcined at higher temperatures and stored in air. Dedicated to Professor Algirdas Vaškelis on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Converting Methane by Using an RF Plasma Reactor

A radio-frequency (RF) plasma system was used to convert methane gas. The reactants and final products were analyzed by using an FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectrometer). The effects of plasma operational parameters, including feeding concentration (C) of CH ₄ , operational pressure (P) in the RF plasma reactor, total gas flow rate (Q) and input power wattage (W) for CH ₄ decomposition were evaluated. The results showed that the CH ₄ decomposition fraction increases with increasing power input, decreasing operational pressure in the RF plasma reactor, decreasing CH ₄ feeding concentration, and decreasing total gas flow rate. In addition, mathematical models based on the obtained experimental data were developed and tested by means of sensitivity analysis.     

Plasma Nitrogen Oxides Synthesis in a Milli-Scale Gliding Arc Reactor: Investigating the Electrical and Process Parameters

Nitrogen fixed in the form of nitrogen oxides is essential to produce fertilizers and many other chemical products, which is vital to sustain life. The performance of a milli-scale gliding arc reactor operated under atmospheric pressure has been studied for nitrogen oxides synthesis. In this work, the electrical and process parameters of the gliding arc reactor, such as frequency, pulse width, amplitude and feed ratio were investigated respectively. The experiments were performed at 1 L/min in a gliding arc discharge regime. The highest concentration of NO_x was found to be ~1 % at energy consumption of 10 kWh/kg of NO_x. Increase in frequency, pulse width and amplitude resulted in an increased specific energy input and NO_x concentration. The feed ratio (N₂/O₂) affected the amount of NO and NO₂ produced, which gives possibility to independently obtain the desired ratio of NO/NO₂ by tuning the electrical and process parameters.     

La1－xSrxNi1－yFeyO3型钙钛矿双功能氧电极的电化学性能研究

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了一系列La_1－xSr_xNi_1－yFe_yO₃ (x＝0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5; y＝0～1.0)型的钙钛矿催化剂, 以活性碳为载体, PTFE乳液为粘接剂制备双功能氧电极. 对催化剂进行了XRD结构分析以及SEM分析和BET比表面积测量. 采用三电极体系测试了氧电极的稳态极化曲线和电化学交流阻抗谱并对其阴极极化和阳极极化的交流阻抗谱图进行分析. 通过等效电路的拟合研究了该系列双功能氧电极氧还原反应的工作机理. 实验表明对于LaNiO₃化合物, B位掺杂可显著提高催化剂的电催化性能; 电极氧还原反应的极化主要由电荷转移反应和Nernstian扩散过程造成. 通过各个电极对于催化分解H₂O₂的分解速率常数的测定得知, Ni离子对于催化H₂O₂分解反应的活性大于Fe离子, 继续在对于氧还原反应和氧析出反应都具有较高电催化活性的LaNi_0.8Fe_0.2O₃催化剂上进行A位掺杂Sr离子后显著提高了催化剂分解H₂O₂的催化活性, 主要是因为氧空位的增多和金属离子d电子含量的降低有利于催化分解H₂O₂的活性的提高, 但由于氧空位的增多导致催化剂电导率的降低, 所以其电催化活性降低了. 通过多圈循环伏安扫描的测试, 催化剂LaNi_0.8Fe_0.2O₃有很好的稳定性.     

Electrochemistry of Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanotubes (CNx) with Different Nitrogen Content and Its Application in Simultaneous Determination of Dihydroxybenzene Isomers

The bamboo‐shaped nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes (CN_x) with different nitrogen content were synthesized using Fe‐containing SBA‐15 molecular sieve as catalyst with thermal decomposition. The CN_x nanotubes prepared were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The results suggest that there are a larger amount of defective sites on CN_x nanotubes surfaces due to the nitrogen doping and CN_x nanotube with higher nitrogen content possesses lower graphitic ordering in the framework. Furthermore the effects of nitrogen content on the electrochemistry of CN_x modified electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). CN_x modified electrodes exhibit better electrocatalytic activities to the oxidation of hydroquinone. Moreover CN_x with lower nitrogen content is in favor of the electron transfer between dihydroxybenzene and electrode surface, while CN_x with higher nitrogen content possesses high surface adsorptive ability. CN_x modified electrodes can be applied to determine dihydroxybenzene isomers directly and simultaneously by linear sweep voltammetry technique without previous separation.     

Comparative Study of the Decomposition of CCl4 in Cold and Thermal Plasma

Decomposition of carbon tetrachloride was studied in an inductively coupled thermal plasma reactor and in a low temperature, non-equilibrium plasma reactor, in neutral and oxidative conditions, respectively. In neutral conditions formation of solid soot, aliphatic- and cyclodienes was observed in equilibrium, and products, such as Cl₂ and C₂Cl₆ were detected in non-equilibrium plasma. Feeding of oxygen into the thermal plasma reactor depressed both soot and dienes formation and induced the formation of oxygen containing intermediates and products. GC-MS analyses of the gaseous products and the extract of the soot referred to as complex decomposition and recombination mechanism at given conditions. Presence of oxygen in the low temperature plasma reactor results in the formation of carbonyl compounds as intermediers. CO₂ and Cl₂ revealed as final products of CCl₄ decomposition in cold plasma.