Carbon Dioxide Reforming of Methane in a Glow Discharge at 50 Hz and Atmospheric Pressure

A chromatographic study of atmospheric pressure glow discharge products in a mixture of CO₂ and CH₄ has been carried out. The discharge has been ignited using a source at a frequency of 50 Hz and a discharge voltage of up to 10 kV. The main gas products at the discharge output are H₂ (∼55%) and CO (∼40%). It is shown that the discharge properties are determined by the ratio of CO₂ and CH4 consumption at the reactor input. Soot particles are formed in the discharge in addition to gas products at the same CO₂ and CH₄ consumption at the reactor input. The soot formation is suppressed and water vapor appears in the discharge when in the CO₂ content in the mixture increases. The discharge current and voltage oscillograms have been analyzed and the energy required to obtain hydrogen and spent on decomposition of СО₂ have been estimated.