Non-oxidative methane conversion assisted by corona discharge

This paper provides experimental parameters in the non-oxidative conversion of methane in a corona discharge to produce acetylene selectively. Conversion of 28% with 76% selectivity to acetylene was obtained using 8.2 W (10,900 V, 14.5 MΩ), 6 mm distance between electrodes, 3.6 mL/min pure methane flow, and a reactor initial temperature of 297 K. A considerable increase in the stability of the reaction was obtained after coating the stainless steel electrodes with gold, presumably due to a decrease in the rate of catalytic carbon formation. The energy efficiency reached 26.2 kWh/kg C2H2. In addition to acetylene, hydrogen, ethane, ethylene, propane and propene were produced.

► Non-oxidative conversion of methane in a corona plasma discharge. ► High acetylene yield and discharge stability. ► Optimized power, flow rate, inlet gas, electrode distance and reactor temperature. ► Stability of plasma reactor improved by gold coated electrodes.