Direct conversion of methanol to n-C4H10 and H-2 in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor



Wang, L, Liu, SY ORCID: 0000-0002-7014-3002, Xu, C ORCID: 0000-0003-0787-837X and Tu, X ORCID: 0000-0002-6376-0897
(2016) Direct conversion of methanol to n-C4H10 and H-2 in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor. GREEN CHEMISTRY, 18 (20). pp. 5658-5666.

[img] Text
Revised Manuscript copy.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript

Download (1MB)

Abstract

Methanol is an important H-carrier and C1 chemical feedstock. In this paper, a direct conversion of methanol to n-C4H10 and H2 was achieved for the first time in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) non-thermal plasma reactor. The selective formation of n-C4H10 by limiting COx (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-C4H10, while a higher methanol inlet concentration and a lower discharge power can effectively limit the formation of CO. The optimal selectivity for n-C4H10 (37.5%), H2 (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 N2 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, C2, CN, H and metastable N2) in the CH3OH/N2 DBD. Possible reaction pathways for the formation of n-C4H10 were proposed and discussed.

Item Type: Article
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 20 Sep 2016 08:19
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2023 07:30
DOI: 10.1039/c6gc01604a
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3003373