CO₂ Decomposition in Microwave Discharge Created in Liquid Hydrocarbon

Abstract

The task of CO2 decomposition is one of the components of the problem associated with global warming. One of the promising directions of its solution is the use of low-temperature plasma. For these purposes, different types of discharges are used. Microwave discharge in liquid hydrocarbons has not been studied before for this problem. This paper presents the results of a study of microwave discharge products in liquid Nefras C2 80/120 (petroleum solvent, a mixture of light hydrocarbons with a boiling point from 33 to 205 °C) when CO2 is introduced into the discharge zone, as well as the results of a study of the discharge by optical emission spectroscopy and shadow photography methods. The main gas products are H2, C2H2, C2H4, CH4, CO2, and CO. No oxygen was found in the products. The mechanisms of CO2 decomposition in the discharge are considered. The formation of H2 occurs simultaneously with the decomposition of CO2 in the discharge, with a volumetric rate of up to 475 mL/min and energy consumption of up to 81.4 NL/kWh.

Keywords

• microwave discharge in liquid hydrocarbons
• CO₂ decomposition
• chromatography of discharge products
• optical emission spectroscopy
• shadow photograph
• hydrogen production