Post-plasma catalytic oxidative CO2 reforming of methane over Ni-based catalysts

•An efficient route of post-plasma catalysis for syngas production was reported.•The unique spark-shade plasma was combined with Ni/CeO2/Al2O3 catalyst.•Syngas concentration of 86% with energy cost of 0.5 eV/molecule was achieved.•Both CO and H2 selectivities arrived at nearly 100%.

To seek an efficient route for syngas production from oxidative CO2 reforming of methane (OCRM) via post-plasma catalytic technique, three routes were compared using spark-shade plasma (input power = 106 W, with F1 of 1.36 SLM at CH4:O2:CO2 = 1:0.6:0.7) and Ni/CeO2/Al2O3 catalyst (catalyst temperature = 800 °C, with or without F2 of 0.52 SLM CH4). Compared with Route 1 (plasma only, F1 only), XO2,XCH4,CH2+COXO2,XCH4,CH2+CO and H2/CO ratio of Route 2 (plasma + catalyst, F1 only) increased to 100%, 99%, 76% and 1.2, respectively; but XCO2XCO2 kept at about 35%, which was close to the thermodynamic-equilibrium values. In Route 3 (plasma + catalyst, F1 + F2), XCO2XCO2 increased dramatically to 67%, CH2+COCH2+CO and H2/CO ratio further increased to 86% and 1.5, respectively, though XCH4XCH4 decreased to 77%. Both SCO and SH2SH2 arrived at nearly 100%. Assuming that the plasma could supply the heat energy for the subsequent catalytic reaction at 800 °C, syngas energy cost as low as 0.5 eV/molecule and energy efficiency as high as 91% were achieved.

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