Reforming of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Containing Natural Gas Using an AC Gliding Arc System: Effect of Gas Components in Natural Gas

The objective of the present work was to study the reforming of simulated natural gas via the nonthermal plasma process with the focus on the production of hydrogen and higher hydrocarbons. The reforming of simulated natural gas was conducted in an alternating current (AC) gliding arc reactor under ambient conditions. The feed composition of the simulated natural gas contained a CH₄:C₂H₆:C₃H₈:CO₂ molar ratio of 70:5:5:20. To investigate the effects of all gaseous hydrocarbons and CO₂ present in the natural gas, the plasma reactor was operated with different feed compositions: pure CH₄, CH₄/He, CH₄/C₂H₆/He, CH₄/C₂H₆/C₃H₈/He and CH₄/C₂H₆/C₃H₈/CO₂. The results showed that the addition of gas components to the feed strongly influenced the reaction performance and the plasma stability. In comparisons among all the studied feed systems, both hydrogen and C₂ hydrocarbon yields were found to depend on the feed gas composition in the following order: CH₄/C₂H₆/C₃H₈/CO₂ > CH₄/C₂H₆/C₃H₈/He > CH₄/C₂H₆/He > CH₄/He > CH₄. The maximum yields of hydrogen and C₂ products of approximately 35% and 42%, respectively, were achieved in the CH₄/C₂H₆/C₃H₈/CO₂ feed system. In terms of energy consumption for producing hydrogen, the feed system of the CH₄/C₂H₆/C₃H₈/CO₂ mixture required the lowest input energy, in the range of 3.58 × 10⁻¹⁸–4.14 × 10⁻¹⁸ W s (22.35–25.82 eV) per molecule of produced hydrogen.     

Influence of Helium on the Conversion of Methane and Carbon dioxide in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge

We have studied the production of synthesis gas and other hydrocarbons in a dielectric barrier discharge using mixtures of helium, methane and carbon dioxide. It was found that helium has a significant influence on the discharge, decreasing the breakdown voltage and increasing the rate of conversion of CH₄ and CO₂. However it also decreases the selectivities and the range of stable operating conditions for the discharge. The main products obtained were H₂, CO, C₂H₆ and C₃H₈ but traces of other hydrocarbon, carbon deposition and the formation of condensable products were also detected. The rate of conversion and conversion abilities were obtained by fitting the conversion results to a model.     

Optical emission diagnostics in cascade arc plasma polymerization and surface modification processes

Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) was used to identify reactive species and their excitation states in low-temperature cascade arc plasmas of N₂, CF₄, C₂F₄, CH₄, and CH₃OH. In a cascade arc plasma, the plasma gas (argon or helium) was excited in the cascade arc generator and injected into a reactor in vacuum. A reactive gas was injected into the cascade arc torch (CAT) that was expanding in the reactor. What kind of species of a reactive gas, for example, nitrogen, are created in the reactor is dependent on the electronic energy levels of the plasma gas in the cascade arc plasma jet. OES revealed that no ion of nitrogen was found when argon was used as the plasma gas of which metastable species had energy less than the ionization energy of nitrogen. When helium was used, ions of nitrogen were found. While OES is a powerful tool to identify the products of the cascade arc generation (activation process), it is less useful to identify the reactive species that are responsible for surface modification of polymers and also for plasma polymerization. The plasma surface modification and plasma polymerization are deactivation processes that cannot be identified by photoemission, which is also a deactivation process. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1583–1592, 1998     

Tests of a “free-volume” model of gas permeation through polymer membranes. I. Pure CO2, CH4, C2H4, and C3H8 in polyethylene

Permeability coefficients have been measured for CO₂, CH₄, C₂H₄, and C₃H₈ in polyethylene membranes at temperatures of 5, 20, and 35°C and at applied gas pressures of up to 30 atm. The temperature and pressure dependence of the permeability coefficients was represented satisfactorily by an extension of Fujita's free-volume model of diffusion of small molecules in polymers. The results of the present steady-state permeability measurements provide further support for the conclusion reached from previous unsteady-state diffusivity measurements that Fujita's model is applicable to the transport of small molecules, such as CO₂, CH₄, C₂H₄, and C₃H₈, in polyethylene. It was previously thought that this model is applicable only to the transport of larger molecules, such as of organic vapors, in polymers.     

Reforming of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Containing Natural Gas Using an AC Gliding Arc System: Effects of Operational Parameters and Oxygen Addition in Feed

In this research, the reforming of simulated natural gas containing a high CO₂ content under AC non-thermal gliding arc discharge with partial oxidation was conducted at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure, with specific regards to the concept of the direct utilization of natural gas. This work aimed at investigating the effects of applied voltage and input frequency, as well as the effect of adding oxygen on the reaction performance and discharge stability in the reforming of the simulated natural gas having a CH₄:C₂H₆:C₃H₈:CO₂ molar ratio of 70:5:5:20. The results showed marked increases in both CH₄ conversion and product yield with increasing applied voltage and decreasing input frequency. The selectivities for H₂, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, C₄H₁₀, and CO were observed to be enhanced at a higher applied voltage and at a lower frequency, whereas the selectivity for C₂H₂ showed an opposite trend. The use of oxygen was found to provide a great enhancement of the plasma reforming of the simulated natural gas. For the combined plasma and partial oxidation in the reforming of CO₂-containing natural gas, air was found to be superior to pure oxygen in terms of reactant conversions, product selectivities, and specific energy consumption. The optimum conditions were found to be a hydrocarbons-to-oxygen feed molar ratio of 2/1 using air as an oxygen source, an applied voltage of 17.5 kV, and a frequency of 300 Hz, in providing the highest CH₄ conversion and synthesis gas selectivity, as well as extremely low specific energy consumption. The energy consumption was as low as 2.73 × 10⁻¹⁸ W s (17.02 eV) per molecule of converted reactant and 2.49 × 10⁻¹⁸ W s (16.60 eV) per molecule of produced hydrogen.     

辐照气氛对异丙氧基杯[4]冠-6辐解的影响

异丙氧基杯[4]冠-6(1,3-交替-25,27-二(2-丙氧基)杯[4]芳烃-26,28-冠-6, 简称BPC6)对高放废液中的放射性Cs离子具有很好的选择萃取性能, 然而在萃取过程中BPC6 会受到强辐射场辐照, 所以有必要研究其辐射稳定性. 本文应用气相色谱(GC)、傅里叶变换显微红外(Micro-FTIR)和核磁共振(NMR)谱等手段分析了BPC6 固体分别在O₂和N₂气氛下的γ辐照效应. 结果表明, 当剂量为1 MGy时, O₂气氛下BPC6 的辐解率明显高于N₂(分别约为10.4%和2.5%), 而且气体辐解产物也有很大差异, 在O₂气氛下主要为H₂、CH₄、CO和CO₂,而在N₂辐照气氛下还有C₂H₄、C₂H₆、C₃H₆和C₃H₈等产物. 通过综合分析气体与固体辐解产物, 我们提出BPC6在不同气氛下具有不同的辐解途径, 这将为BPC6 萃取体系的辐射效应研究提供新的方法与思路, 加深对其辐解机理的认识.     

Bioinspired Design of a Giant [Mn86] Nanocage-Based Metal-Organic Framework with Specific CO2 Binding Pockets for Highly Selective CO2 Separation

Adsorption-based removal of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from gas mixtures has demonstrated great potential for solving energy security and environmental sustainability challenges. However, due to similar physicochemical properties between CO₂ and other gases as well as the co-adsorption behavior, the selectivity of CO₂ is severely limited in currently reported CO₂-selective sorbents. To address the challenge, we create a bioinspired design strategy and report a robust, microporous metal–organic framework (MOF) with unprecedented [Mn₈₆] nanocages. Attributed to the existence of unique enzyme-like confined pockets, strong coordination interactions and dipole-dipole interactions are generated for CO₂ molecules, resulting in only CO₂ molecules fitting in the pocket while other gas molecules are prohibited. Thus, this MOF can selectively remove CO₂ from various gas mixtures and show record-high selectivities of CO₂/CH₄ and CO₂/N₂ mixtures. Highly efficient CO₂/C₂H₂, CO₂/CH₄, and CO₂/N₂ separations are achieved, as verified by experimental breakthrough tests. This work paves a new avenue for the fabrication of adsorbents with high CO₂ selectivity and provides important guidance for designing highly effective adsorbents for gas separation.     

Application of a Microwave Helium Plasma Torch Operating at Atmospheric Pressure to Destroy Trichloroethylene

We examined the influence of the gas flow-rate, microwave power and trichloroethylene concentration on the destruction of trichloroethylene with a system based on a microwave helium plasma operating at atmospheric pressure. Based on the experimental results obtained, the proposed system allows input concentrations of C₂HCl₃ in the ppmv range to be reduced to output concentrations in the ppbv range (i.e. virtually quantitative destruction) by using a microwave plasma power below 1000 W. High helium flow-rates and C₂HCl₃ concentrations allow energy efficiency values above 600 g/kW h to be obtained. Analyses of the output gases by gas chromatography and species present in the plasma by optical emission spectroscopy confirmed the negligible presence of halogen compounds resulting from the destruction of C₂HCl₃, and that of CCl₄ and C₂Cl₄ as the sole chlorine species exceeding levels of 30 ppbv. Gaseous by-products consisted mainly of CO₂, NO and N₂O in addition to Cl₂ traces.     

In-Situ-Formed Potassium-Modified Nickel-Zinc Carbide Boosts Production of Higher Alcohols beyond CH4 in CO2 Hydrogenation

Ni-based catalysts have been widely studied in the hydrogenation of CO₂ to CH₄, but selective and efficient synthesis of higher alcohols (C₂₊OH) from CO₂ hydrogenation over Ni-based catalyst is still challenging due to successive hydrogenation of C1 intermediates leading to methanation. Herein, we report an unprecedented synthesis of C₂₊OH from CO₂ hydrogenation over K-modified Ni−Zn bimetal catalyst with promising activity and selectivity. Systematic experiments (including XRD, in situ spectroscopic characterization) and computational studies reveal the in situ generation of an active K-modified Ni−Zn carbide (K-Ni₃Zn₁C_0.7) by carburization of Zn-incorporated Ni⁰, which can significantly enhance CO₂ adsorption and the surface coverage of alkyl intermediates, and boost the C−C coupling to C₂₊OH rather than conventional CH₄. This work opens a new catalytic avenue toward CO₂ hydrogenation to C₂₊OH, and also provides an insightful example for the rational design of selective and efficient Ni-based catalysts for CO₂ hydrogenation to multiple carbon products.     

Pyrolysis and TG Analysis of Shivee Ovoo Coal from Mongolia

The coal sample of the Shivee Ovoo deposits has been non-isothermally pyrolysed in a thermogravimetric analyser to determine the influence of temperature, heating rate and purge gas employed on the thermal degradation of the sample. The heating rates investigated in the TG were 10–50 K min^–1 to final temperature of 1000°C. N₂or CO₂ were employed as well as type of purge gas on the process of thermal degradation of the coal sample. The coal was also investigated in a fixed bed reactor to determine the influence of temperature and heating rate of the pyrolysis on the yield of products and composition of the gases evolved. The main gases produced were H₂, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₆ and C₃H₈ and also minor concentrations of other gases. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Calculation of harmonic force constants,vibrational frequencies and integrated intensities of some organic molecules using the MINDO—Forces method

The harmonic force constants, vibrational frequencies and integrated intensity ratios of CH₂, H₂O, CH₂O, C₂H₂, CO₂, HCN, CH₃, CH₄, and C₂H₄ have been calculated using the MINDO—FORCES program and the Pulay method for the calculation of the molecular force constants. The results obtained are in general quite satisfactory when compared with available literature values. The results are, however, not as satisfactory in case of molecules containing heteroatoms, due to the neglect of some dipolar repulsion integrals for the heteroatoms by the MINDO/3 method. Calculated integrated intensities for CH₃ and C₂H₄ agree well with experimental results. The calculated integrated intensities for other molecules are obtained for the first time and no comparison with published data is therefore possible.Part of the M.Sc. Thesis of K. H. A. 1978.     

Gas-chromatographische Simultanbestimmung von O2, N2, CO,CO2, N2O,SO2, CH4, C2H4 und C2H6 im ppm-Bereich. I. Mitteilung

Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt ein neues Verfahren zur gas-chromatographischen Simultananalyse von N₂, O₂, CO, CO₂, N₂O, SO₂, CH₄, C₂H₄ und C₂H₆ im Konzentrations-bereich von 10% bis 10 ppm ohne Voranreicherung. Die temperaturprogrammierte Trennung der Einzelkomponenten erfolgt nach Vorsäulensplitting auf zwei parallel geschalteten Säulen. Zur Emittlung der Retentionszeiten und der Peakflächen werden zwei voneinander unabhängige Ultraschalldetektoren verwendet, deren Analogsignale nach Digitalisierung in einem Mikrocomputer verarbeitet werden. Instrumentierung und chromatographische Einzelheiten werden beschrieben und diskutiert.

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Simultaneous gas chromatographic determination of N₂, O₂, CO, CO₂, N₂O, SO₂, CH₄, C₂H₄ and C₂H₆ at the ppm-level. Part I

Summary A new procedure for the simultaneous determination of N₂, O₂, CO, CO₂, N₂O, SO₂, CH₄, C₂H₄ and C₂H₆ by gas chromatography is described. Concentrations from 10% down to 10 ppm can be determined without preconcentration. After a pre-column splitting the individual compounds of the sample are separated by a uniform temperature program on two different columns in parallel. Detection of the effluents is achieved by two individual ultrasonic detectors, the data from which are processed in a micro-computer. Instrumentation and gas chromatographic details are described and discussed.

     

Modelling of carbon dioxide: methane separation using titanium dioxide nanotubes

The separation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) mixture is of considerable interest in order to purify natural gas, and one suggestion is that titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanotubes might be exploited to separate a gaseous mixture of methane and carbon dioxide. In this study, we employ both Coulomb’s law and the Lennard–Jones potential to determine the total energy of adsorption CO₂ and CH₄ into a TiO₂ nanotube. The CH₄ is a nonpolar molecule, and therefore the Coulombic interaction may be neglected. The total energy of the systems is evaluated utilizing the continuous approximation, which assumes that the two gas molecules are spheres of certain radii, while the tube is modelled as a cylinder. Further, both electrostatic and van der Waals potentials are determined and expressed in the exact analytical formulae. The numerical results predict that a single molecule of CO₂ or CH₄ can be encapsulated into the tube. On assuming both gases may form clusters with the same proportion of atom species, a cluster of CO₂ will not be adsorbed into the tube when its radius exceeds 3.32?. On the other hand, a cluster of CH₄ can be encapsulated into an appropriate radius of TiO₂ nanotube. These results indicate that TiO₂ nanotubes may be useful in the purification of CH₄.     

Synthesis and properties of pentamethylmetallocene derivatives Cp*MCp (M = Ru, Fe). Crystal structure of the salt [CpRuC5Me4CH2+OC6H2(NO2)3-]

Photolysis of a solution of Cp*RuCp (1) in CF₃CO₂H generates salt [CpRu(C₅Me₄CH₂)]-(O₂CCF₃)(2 • O₂CCF₃). The reaction of compound 1 with oleum at 20 °C through the intermediate dication [η⁵-(CH₂C₅Me₄)Ru(μ:η⁵,ν⁵-C₅H₄C₅H₅)Ru(C₅Me₄CH₂)-η⁶]²⁺ leads to the triply charged cation η⁷CH₂)₂C₅Me₃Ru(μη⁵,η⁵-C₅H₄C₅H₄)Ru(C₅Me₄CH₂)-η⁶]³⁺. Synthesis of pentamethylmetallocene derivatives CpMC₅Me₄X (M = Ru, Fe; X = CHO, CH₂OH, CH₂An) has been accomplished. The reactions of 1-hydroxymethyl-2,3,4,5-tetramethylruthenocene with acids CF₃CO₂H, HBF₄, CF₃CO₂H/NaB[C₆H₃(CF₃)₂]₄, and picric acid C₆H₂(NO₂)₃OH afforded salts 2•X (X = CF₃CO₂, BF₄, B[C₆H₃(CF₃)₂]₄), and (2,3,4,5-tetram ethylruthenocenyl)methyl picrate [CpRu(C₅Me₄CH₂)-η⁶][(C₆H₂(NO₂)₃O] (2•C₆H₂(NO₂)₃O). Structure of the latter was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

A unique 3D microporous MOF constructed by cross-linking 1D coordination polymer chains for effectively selective separation of CO_2/CH_4 and C_2H_2/CH_4

Selective separation of CO_2/CH_4 and C_2 H_2/CH_4 are promising for their high-purity industrial demand and scientific research on account of the similar molecular radius and physical properties.In this work,a unique 3 D microporous MOF material [Cu(SiF_6)(sdi)_2]·solvents(1,sdi=1,1'-sulfonyldiimidazole) was successfully constructed by cross-linking 1 D coordination polymer chains.The dense functional active sites on the inner walls of the channel of la can provide strong binding affinities to CO_2,C_2 H_2,and thus effectively improve the gas separation performance of CO_2/CH_4 and C_2 H_2/CH_4.     

Selective ethylene formation by pulse-mode electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide using copper and copper-oxide electrodes

Although the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) with a copper electrode produces hydrocarbons, the activity toward the conversion of CO₂ is lost for several 10 min by the deposition of poisoning species on the electrode. To solve the poisoning species problem, the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ was carried out using a copper electrode with a pulse electrolysis mode with anodic as well as cathodic polarization. The anodic polarization intervals suppressed the deposition of poisoning species on the electrode, and the amount of two hydrocarbons, CH₄ and C₂H₄, barely decreased even after an hour. By choosing appropriate anodic potential and time duration, the selectivity for the C₂H₄ formation was greatly enhanced. The enhancement was found to be due to the copper oxide formed on the copper electrode. The selectivity was further improved when the electrochemical reduction was made with the copper-oxide electrode. The highest efficiency of about 28% is obtained at −3.15 V.     

Conversion of CH4 Catalyzed by Gas Phase Ions Containing Metals

Methane is an abundant and cheap feedstock to produce valuable chemicals. The catalytic reaction of methane conversion generally requires the participation of multiple molecules (such as two or three CH₄ molecules, O₂, CO₂, etc.). Such complex process includes the cleavage of original chemical bonds, formation of new chemical bonds, and desorption of products. The gas phase study provides a unique arena to gain molecular-level insights into the detailed mechanisms of bond-breaking and bond-forming involved in complicated catalytic reactions. In this Review, we introduce the methane conversion catalyzed by gas phase ions containing metals and three topics will be discussed: (1) the direct coupling of methane molecules, (2) the conversion of CH₄ with O₂, O₃ and N₂O, and (3) the conversion of CH₄ with CO₂ and H₂O. The obtained mechanistic aspects may provide new clues for rational design of better-performing catalysts for conversion of methane to value-added products.     

Deposition of Diamondlike Carbon Film and Mass Spectrometry Measurement in CH4/N2 RF Plasma

The deposition of diamondlike carbon (DLC) film and the measurements of ionic species by means of mass spectrometry were carried out in a CH₄/N₂ RF (13.56 MHz) plasma at 0.1 Torr. The film deposition rate greatly depended on both CH₄/N₂ composition ratio and RF power input. It was decreased monotonically as CH₄ content decreased in the plasma and then rapidly diminished to negligible amounts at a critical CH₄ content, which became large for higher RF power. The rate increased with increasing RF power, reaching a maximum value in 40% CH₄ plasma. The predominant ionic products in CH₄/N₂ plasma were NH⁺ ₄ and CH₄N⁺ ions, which were produced by reactions of hydrocarbon ions, such as CH⁺ ₃, CH⁺ ₂, CH⁺ ₅, and C₂H⁺ ₅ with NH₃ molecules in the plasma. It was speculated that the production of NH⁺ ₄ ion induced the decrease of C₂H⁺ ₅ ion density in the plasma, which caused a reduction in higher hydrocarbon ions densities and, accordingly, in film deposition rate. The N⁺ ₂ ion sputtering also plays a major role in a reduction of film deposition rate for relatively large RF powers. The incorporation of nitrogen atoms into the bonding network of the DLC film deposited was greatly suppressed at present gas pressure conditions.     

Binding energy of gas molecule with two pyrazine molecules as organic linker in metal�Corganic framework: its theoretical evaluation and understanding of determining factors

We explored the interactions of gas molecules such as H₂, CH₄, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, CO₂, and CS₂ sandwiched by two pyrazine (Pz) molecules, which were employed as a model of organic linker in the Hofmann-type metal?Corganic framework (MOF). The MP2.5/aug-cc-pVTZ method was employed here, because this method presents almost the same binding energy as that calculated by the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ with MP2.5-evaluated basis set extension effects to aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. The binding energy of the gas molecule increases in the order H₂?<?CH₄?<?CO₂?<?C₂H₄????C₂H₆?<?CS₂. The energy decomposition analysis of the interaction energy indicates that the electrostatic term presents the largest contribution to the interaction energy at the Hartree?CFock level. However, the dispersion interaction provides dominant contribution to the total binding energy at correlated level. We newly found a linear correlation between the z-component of polarizability of gas molecules and dispersion energy, where the z-axis was taken to be perpendicular to two Pz rings. These results are useful for understanding and predicting the binding energy of the gas molecule with the organic linkers of MOF.