54(4), 2007, pp.823-828

A Brief Catalyst Study on Direct Methane Conversion Using a Dielectric Barrier Discharge

Antonius Indarto,* Jae-Wook Choi, Hwaung Lee and Hyung Keun Song

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Korea

Abstract.     A series of metal catalysts was used for methane conversion to higher hydrocarbons and hydrogen in a dielectric barrier discharge. The main goal of this study is to identify the metal catalyst components which can influence the reactions in room-temperature plasma conditions. The catalysts supported by g-Al2O3 and zeolite (ZSM 5x) were prepared by the incipient wetness method with solutions containing the metal ions of the second component. Among the catalysts tested, only Pt and Fe catalysts showed a unique result of catalytic reaction in a reactor bed packed with glass beads.

Keyword:  Plasma; Dielectric barrier discharge; Metal catalyst; Methane conversion.