Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide This study explores the impact of different carrier gases, such as methane (CH 4 ), propane (C 3 H 8 ), and argon (Ar), on product distribution in the plasma reforming of liquid fuels (C 1 6 H 3 2 ) in a multiphase medium. Each carrier gas was introduced to the plasma reactor in a 90 to 10 ratio with hydrogen (H 2 ), and the resulting gas and liquid phase products, as well as solid byproducts, were examined. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed that the use of CH 4 and C 3 H 8 produced comparable amounts of lighter hydrocarbon components (C 9 –C 1 5 ), and it greatly outperformed the product yields seen with Ar. The enhanced conversion of C 1 6 H 3 2 in CH 4 and C 3 H 8 environments is associated with the formation of reactive radicals (e.g., CH 3 •, C 2 H 5 •) from the carrier gases that directly participate in larger hydrocarbon fragmentation, a process absent when using Ar. Despite similar hydrogen yields in all cases, gas-phase products revealed that C 3 H 8 produced more ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), ethane (C 2 H 6 ), propylene (C 3 H 6 ), and hydrocarbons in the C 4 –C 9 range than CH 4 and Ar. Acetylene (C 2 H 2 ) generation was significantly lower in the C 3 H 8 case, indicating that plasma reactions involving propane favor the formation of stable hydrocarbons and the growth of secondary products over severe fragmentation. Analysis of solid byproducts shows that C 3 H 8 generated the most amount of carbon soot because of the higher C to H ratio among all three carrier gas conditions. These findings show the critical importance of carrier gas chemistry in controlling the distribution of products in plasma multiphase reforming and offer new insights into enhancing plasma-assisted hydrocarbon reforming processes.
Authors: Md Abdullah Hil Baky, Kunpeng Wang, Juliet Leger, Howard Jemison, David Staack
Institution: Texas A&M University
Language: English
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
OpenAlex ID: W4415431763