Plasma Decomposition of Clathrate Hydrates by 2.45 GHz Microwave Irradiation at Atmospheric Pressure

The purpose of this research is to develop a process to use the plasma decomposition of clathrate\ud hydrates to produce fuel gas. An ordinary microwave (MW) oven is used as the source of 2.45\ud GHz MW radiation under atmospheric-pressure. The plasma decomposition of the hydrates\ud could pave the way for a new utilization of atmospheric pressure plasma. Cyclopentane (CP)\ud hydrate formed at atmospheric pressure was decomposed by plasma in a MW oven generating\ud gas with a content of 65% hydrogen, 12% CO, and 8% CO2. About 7% of the MW input power\ud was consumed to decompose the hydrates. ??2011 The Japan Society of Applied Physic