Work

The Use of Metal Oxides (Al2O3 and ZrO2) and Supports (Glass and Kaolin) to Enhance DBD Plasma-Catalytic CO2 Conversion

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: The conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable products like carbon monoxide (CO) is an important process facing limitations due to poor energy efficiency. Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactors offer a potential solution through synergistic plasma catalysis, making the selection of an optimal solid packing material a critical design challenge. Methods: This study investigated the impact of four different packing materials—Al2O3, ZrO2, glass beads, and kaolin pellets—on the CO2 conversion process in a DBD reactor. The materials’ physical and chemical properties (porosity and composition) were analyzed. Experiments were conducted to examine the influence of gas flow rates and bead size on CO2 and CO concentrations. The study utilized optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and kinetic mathematical modeling to characterize the discharge and the reaction. Results: Higher gas flow rates led to a decrease in CO2 conversion due to reduced specific energy input. The addition of solid packing significantly improved system efficiency by promoting filamentary and surface discharges, with smaller beads yielding higher conversion rates. Notably, kaolin demonstrated unique performance characteristics, suggested by its increased plasma brightness, likely due to flow-induced turbulence promoting the reaction. Conclusions: Proper material selection and packing design are crucial for efficient CO2 splitting, concurrently boosting energy efficiency and maintaining high conversion. While Al2O3 (corundum) shows high intrinsic activity, kaolin emerges as a highly competitive and advantageous material when associated costs are considered paramount for large-scale applications.

Source: Materials

DOI: 10.3390/ma18235411

Authors: Agata Dorosz, Krzysztof Zaraska, Michał Lewak, Artur Małolepszy, Jakub Jaworski, Arkadiusz Moskal

Institutions: Warsaw University of Technology, Łukasiewicz Research Network - Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics

Language: English

Topic: Plasma Applications and Diagnostics

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Responsible consumption and production, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137