Reaction engineering of carbon monoxide generation by treatment with atmospheric pressure, low power CO2 DBD plasma

- CO2 is converted to CO by low power DBD-corona hybrid plasma.
- The kinetics of CO formation by CO2 plasmolysis is studied and analysed in detail.
- A kinetics model has been proposed to estimate the reaction time.
- Optical emission spectroscopy has been used to study CO2 plasma.
- The operational parameters were varied to find the most efficient condition.

One of the greatest challenges faced by humanity is the changing global environmental trends. Evidence points out to the increased greenhouse gas emission by humans as the main cause. One of the possible solutions to reduce CO2 emissions is to produce value added products or the precursors which can be used as the feedstock for the former. In the current study CO2 is converted to CO by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)-corona hybrid plasma treatment while maintaining low power consumption. The kinetics of CO formation by CO2 plasmolysis is studied and analysed in detail. A well mixed system kinetics model has been proposed to estimate the reaction time for the experimental studies. Optical emission spectroscopy has been used to study CO2 plasma and mixtures of CO2/N2, CO2/water vapour and CO2/Ar plasma. A parametric study varying length of electrode, voltage, frequency, CO2 flow rate and pressure in plasma chamber is conducted. CO formation was found to be favoured at 600 mL/min flow rate, 1 atm pressure, 4.8 kV voltage at 40 kHz of frequency with 9 cm electrode.