Low temperature conversion of toluene to methane using dielectric barrier discharge reactor

A dielectric barrier discharge reactor was used to convert toluene (tar analogue) into methane ( > 90%). This study showed that wall temperature and plasma power played key roles on the product distribution. At ambient conditions, solid formation was observed inside the reactor at all tested powers (50-85 W). The maximum selectivity to lower hydrocarbon (C-1-C-6) was 63% at 85 W. However, complete conversion of the toluene to lower hydrocarbons was seen at power (75 W), when the surrounding temperature raised to 200 degrees C. Significant increase in selectivity also observed at 50 W, where selectivity increased from 35% to 84%, at 200 degrees C. The selectivity to various lower hydrocarbons was strongly dependent upon power. Methane showed maximum selectivity > 90% at 85 W and 200 degrees C, whereas at 50 W the other hydrocarbons > C-1 were > 40% along with methane. The selectivity of C-2-C-6 started to decrease when increasing power due to increased cracking into methane.