An application of barrier discharge for methane oxidative conversion with stimulated condensation of incomplete oxidation product

Rational use of methane, the major portion of natural gas, has been the subject of investigation for many research groups throughout the world. Some studies have been devoted to the plasma-chemical conversion of methane-oxygen mixtures into methanol, however, the degree of conversion achieved was not over a few percent. At the same time, an increase in the degree of conversion is accompanied by a fast rise in the fraction of profound oxidation products carbon oxides. This course of events could be avoided if intermediate incomplete oxidation products could be removed from the reaction zone. It is known that radiolysis of gaseous hydrocarbons is accompanied, under certain conditions, by the formation of an aerosol consisting of condensing reaction products. This process can be used for removal the desired conversion products from the active zone of the reactor. The present study has been devoted to the conversion of light hydrocarbons mixed with oxygen in a plasma-chemical reactor where condensation of intermediate products stimulated by an electrical discharge has been accomplished