H2 production by ethanol decomposition with a gliding arc discharge plasma reactor

A gliding arc discharge (GRD) reactor was used to decompose ethanol into primarily H-2 and CO with small amounts of CH4, C2H2, C2H4, and C2H6. The ethanol concentration, electrode gap, input voltage and Ar flow rate all affected the conversion of ethanol with results ranging from 40.7% to 58.0%. Interestingly, for all experimental conditions the SH2/SCO selectivity ratio was quite stable at around 1.03. The mechanism for the decomposition of ethanol is also described.