Low energy cost conversion of methane to ethylene in a hybrid plasma-catalytic reactor system

In this work, we report on low energy cost methane conversion to ethylene in a hybrid plasma-catalytic reactor system. Methane is first converted to acetylene, reaching up to 23.5% yield per pass, by a nanosecond pulsed discharge (NPD), and subsequently, acetylene is hydrogenated to ethylene using a Pd-based catalyst, which is placed in the post-plasma zone. Overall, ethylene is formed as major product at 25.7% yield per pass, consuming 1642 kJ/molC(2)H(4), which is the lowest energy cost reported for plasma-assisted methane-to-ethylene conversion so far. The two-step process is carried out in a single reactor volume that aside from the discharge energy does not require any heat or hydrogen input since both are provided by methane cracking in the plasma zone itself.In this work, we report on low energy cost methane conversion to ethylene in a hybrid plasma-catalytic reactor system. Methane is first converted to acetylene, reaching up to 23.5% yield per pass, by a nanosecond pulsed discharge (NPD), and subsequently, acetylene is hydrogenated to ethylene using a Pd-based catalyst, which is placed in the post-plasma zone. Overall, ethylene is formed as major product at 25.7% yield per pass, consuming 1642 kJ/molC(2)H(4), which is the lowest energy cost reported for plasma-assisted methane-to-ethylene conversion so far. The two-step process is carried out in a single reactor volume that aside from the discharge energy does not require any heat or hydrogen input since both are provided by methane cracking in the plasma zone itself.A