Complementary effect of plasma–catalysis hybrid system on methane complete oxidation over non-PGM catalysts

•Non-thermal plasma and non-PGM catalyst were used to completely oxidize CH4.•Non-PGM catalyst with plasma showed similar result to that of Pd/Al2O3.•Co1Ni1Ox presented excellent activity and selectivity under the hybrid condition.

Methane complete oxidation reaction was carried out in a non-thermal plasma (dielectric barrier discharge) quartz tube reactor where both plasma and catalyst were combined into one in-plasma catalysis system. In plasma only condition, the CO selectivity was maintained at high value (~ 50%) until the temperature reached about 200 °C. In the presence of both plasma and catalyst, however, methane was oxidized even at room temperature mostly to CO2 with low CO selectivity over certain non-PGM catalyst like Co1Ni1Ox. Hence, methane complete oxidation reaction proceeded at much lower temperature similar to PGM catalyst such as Pd/Al2O3, while maintaining low CO selectivity.

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