Abatement of CO2 under the microwave plasma torch system assisted with low-density coal.

Abstract

Greenhouse gas emissions are abundantly produced every year by human activities. They are the main cause of global warming and the changes observed in the climate. In this study, we used the microwave plasma torch system (MPT) to drive the conversion of CO₂ through the Boudouard reaction pathway. The necessary microwave power applied has efficiently activated the coal used as a reductant agent to initiate the chemical decomposition of CO2. The specific energy consumption reached 94 kJ/mol to ensure the continuous decomposition process of carbon dioxide under microwave plasma torch technology at atmospheric pressure. Experimentally, the conversion rate of 20 lpm of CO₂ under the MPT developed in this research reached 64% at a moderate temperature of 680°C with a specific recipe composed of the operating conditions coupled to the geometry of the designed reactor. In addition, the numerical model built in Aspen Plus V12 supported the experimental results by producing similar patterns in the conversion of CO₂ as a function of microwave power. Thus, the entire process tends to be energy-saving and an efficient solution for greenhouse gas mitigation for a clean and sustainable environment.