An Experimental Study of Reactions of Co and H2 in a Continuous Flow Microwave Discharge Reactor

The reactions of CO/H
₂
mixtures in a flowing microwave (2450 MHz) reactor system have been studied experimentally. This versatile microwave plasma source catalyzes the reactions selectively to products, mainly methane and acetylene. For reaction times of 0.1 to 0.5 seconds in the pressure range of 10 to 90 torr conversions of CO to hydrocarbons ranged from 4 to 19%. Electric and magnetic field configurations in the reactor, i.e. various electromagnetic modes, appear to have only minor effects on the chemical reactions. It was observed that the conversion of CO to hydrocarbons is enhanced by high ratios of H
₂
/CO. Based on analysis of experimental data, hydrogen radical production appears to be the controlling mechanism for producing both methane and acetylene.