CO2 methanation through gliding arc discharge over Ni/Al2O3
Ming Li, Dae-Yeong Kim, Shutaro Nakao, Tomohiro Nozaki*
* The author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
Abstract
This research investigates the catalytic performance of Ni/Al2O3 in the methanation of CO2 under both thermal and Gliding Arc Discharge (GAD) conditions. Utilizing in situ transmission infrared (TIR) absorption spectroscopy and quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS), the study analyzes the transient behavior of the plasma-catalyst interaction of CO2 methanation. GAD significantly enhances CO2 conversion and methane production compared to thermal catalysis by CO2 activation, facilitating the rapid transformation of intermediate species on the catalyst surface. Additionally, the study provides a detailed analysis of the electrical characteristics of GAD, capturing voltage and current waveforms that illustrate the transient arc behavior under different phases of the discharge process. The results indicate that lower pressures, while reducing overall CO2 conversion, enhance methane production by suppressing the gas phase CO2 conversion to CO and promoting surface reactions. This comprehensive study not only advances the understanding of plasma-assisted catalysis for CO2 methanation but also highlights the potential of this technology for enhancing greenhouse gas utilization with renewable energy-driven plasma, paving the way for future optimization and industrial application.
Keywords - CO2 methanation, Gliding arc discharge, Ni/Al2O3, in situ TIR.