Glycerol dehydration catalyzed by solid acid in nonthermal plasma and simulation analysis of plasma electric field

Abstract Nonthermal plasma (NTP), for the first time, was integrated in glycerol dehydration reaction catalyzed by silicotungstic acid supported on mesoporous silica with argon as the carrier and discharge gas. A range of reaction temperatures (220–320°C) and NTP discharge field strengths (2.06–6.87 kV/cm) were studied for the individual and interactive effects regarding the glycerol conversion and product selectivity. Results showed that the presence of NTP always improved the glycerol conversion, and NTP increased acrolein selectivity if properly conditioned. An optimal condition of 275°C and 4.58 kV/cm NTP field strength achieved a glycerol conversion of 94.4 mol%, acrolein selectivity of 88.0 mol%, with an acrolein yield of 83.1 mol%, representing a 10% improvement in acrolein production over that conducted at the same temperature but without NTP. Results of this study will also have significant implication for other heterogeneously catalyzed dehydration reactions. Simulation of the high‐voltage electric field distribution as function of NTP electrical conductivity and relative permittivity of catalyst materials also offers insight for the future design of reactors and catalysts.