Plasma reforming of aliphatic hydrocarbons with CO/sub 2/

CO/sub 2/ reforming of methane, propane, and neopentane was investigated with a ferroelectric packed bed reactor in N/sub 2/ at different temperatures. No chemical interaction was observed between these hydrocarbons and CO/sub 2/ in nonthermal plasma, and their conversions decreased with an increase in the counterpart hydrocarbon or CO/sub 2/. H/sub 2/ yield also decreased with an increase in CO/sub 2/ concentration. CO was formed both from CO/sub 2/ and CH/sub 4/, and its yield decreased with an increase in CH/sub 4/ concentration. The molar ratio of H/sub 2/ to CO depended on substrate hydrocarbon and reaction temperature, and decreased with increases in CO/sub 2/ concentration and reactor energy density. The reactivity of the hydrocarbon decreased in the order: propane > neopentane > methane. With an increase in reaction temperature, hydrocarbon conversion and H/sub 2/ yield increased. Reaction temperature controls the subsequent and thermal processes of secondary decomposition of hydrocarbon and product formation, which are induced by radicals generated in situ.