Direct conversion of methanol to n-C4H10 and H2 in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor

• Published in: Green chemistry : an international journal and green chemistry resource : GC 2016-10, Vol.18 (2), p.5658-5666
• Main Authors: Wang, L, Liu, S. Y, Xu, C, Tu, X
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dielectric barrier discharge; Direct conversion; Discharge; Formations; Inlets; Methyl alcohol; Optimization; Reactors
• ISSN: 1463-9262; 1463-9270
• DOI: 10.1039/c6gc01604a

Methanol is an important H-carrier and C1 chemical feedstock. In this paper, a direct conversion of methanol to n -C 4 H 10 and H 2 was achieved for the first time in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) non-thermal plasma reactor. The selective formation of n -C 4 H 10 by limiting CO x ( x = 1 and 2) generation was obtained by optimizing different plasma processing parameters including the methanol inlet concentration, discharge power, and pre-heating temperature. The results showed that a higher methanol inlet concentration and a higher pre-heating temperature favors the formation of n -C 4 H 10 , while a higher methanol inlet concentration and a lower discharge power can effectively limit the formation of CO. The optimal selectivity for n -C 4 H 10 (37.5%), H 2 (28.9%) and CO (14%) was achieved, with a methanol conversion of 40.0%, at a methanol inlet concentration of 18 mol%, a discharge power of 30 W and a pre-heating temperature of 140 °C using N 2 as a carrier gas. Value-added liquid chemicals ( e.g. , alcohols, acids, and heavy hydrocarbons) were also obtained from this reaction. Emission spectroscopy diagnostics reveals the formation of various reactive species ( e.g. , CH, C 2 , CN, H and metastable N 2 ) in the CH 3 OH/N 2 DBD. Possible reaction pathways for the formation of n -C 4 H 10 were proposed and discussed. A direct conversion of methanol to n -C 4 H 10 and H 2 by limiting CO and CO 2 formation was achieved in a coaxial dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor without a catalyst.