Microwave-assisted pyrolysis of CH4/N-2 mixtures over activated carbon

作者：Fidalgo B; Fernandez Y; Dominguez A; Pis J J; Menendez J A^*

来源：Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2008, 82(1): 158-162.

DOI：10.1016/j.jaap.2008.03.004

• methane
• pyrolysis
• microwaves
• hydrogen
• carbon nanofilaments

The aim of this work was to study the microwave-assisted pyrolysis of CH4 over an activated carbon, which acted as both microwave receptor and catalyst, and the influence of using different CH4/N-2 ratios on the conversion of CH4 to H-2. In order to compare the results obtained in the microwave oven, the pyrolysis was also carried out under conventional heating (electric furnace, EF). The effects of N-2, which enhanced significantly CH4 conversion, differed depending on the heating device used. Under EF heating, N-2 seemed to have an effect similar to distribute the CH4 molecules within the activated carbon bed. Under microwave heating (MW), the N-2, as well as distributing the CH4 molecules, favoured the generation of energetic microplasmas, leading to higher conversions. The prevalence of one role over the other depended on the CH4/N-2 ratio, the appearance of energetic microplasmas being favoured with high percentages of N-2. Consequently, CH4 conversion was higher at low CH4/N-2 ratios. Additionally, the formation of carbon nanofibres in experiments where a combination of N-2 and MW heating was used is also reported.

• 出版日期2008-5