Amination of Cyclohexane by Dielectric Barrier Discharge Processing in a Continuous Flow Microreactor: Experimental and Simulation Studies

A miniaturized flow device has been developed to combine microfluidics technology and plasma process. In this microreactor, atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharges are generated in a gas in contact with a liquid phase. This study was conducted with plasma generated in ammonia in contact with a flow of liquid cyclohexane. Cyclohexylamine was synthesized with a good selectivity, and the process can be implemented to improve conversion and effectiveness. Numerical simulations confirmed that NH2 radicals are generated in the plasma and react with cyclohexyls radicals to achieve the reaction, giving a selectivity of 50% and a total molar conversion of 20% of cyclohexane. The effects of voltage and frequency on the selectivity and the experimental conversion rate were studied and discussed.

Automated summary

A miniaturized flow device combining microfluidics technology and plasma process successfully synthesized cyclohexylamine with 50% selectivity and 20% molar conversion of cyclohexane. Numerical simulations confirmed the generation of NH2 radicals in the plasma, reacting with cyclohexyl radicals to achieve the reaction. Effects of voltage and frequency on selectivity and conversion rate were studied and discussed.