Conversion of Greenhouse Gases to Synthesis Gas and Higher Hydrocarbons

The reaction of methane with carbon dioxide to produce synthesis gas (H2 + CO), gaseous hydrocarbons (C2−C4), and higher hydrocarbons was investigated over Quartz fleece, zeolite X, zeolite HY, and zeolite NaY catalysts promoted by dielectric-barrier discharges (DBDs) at low temperature and ambient pressure. Zeolite NaY is the most promising catalyst for producing synthesis gas (H2 + CO) and liquid hydrocarbons (C5+) with high methane and carbon dioxide conversions. The important variables affecting the activity and selectivity of zeolite NaY catalyst such as discharge power, wall temperature, flow rate, mixing ratio of methane to carbon dioxide, and temporal stability were studied. The conversion of CH4 was 67%, and that of CO2 was 40%. The yield of synthesis gas was 47%, and the selectivity to liquid hydrocarbons (C5+) was 34% when the reaction was performed at a wall temperature of 423 K, gas pressure of 1 bar, molar ratio of CH4 to CO2 of 1, feed gas flow rate of 200 mL/min, and input power of 500 W. The present study shows that zeolite NaY has potential application in the production of synthesis gas (H2 + CO) and liquid hydrocarbons (C5+) in a dielectric-barrier discharge reactor at low temperature and ambient pressure.