Activation of Chemical Reactions Through Corona Discharge: Partial Oxidation of Methane

Activation of Chemical Reactions through Corona Discharge:

Partial Oxidation of Methane

Peter Kreider, Yousef Alanazi, Justin Pommerenck, Alex Yokochi

           

Activation of otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reactions usually requires addition of external activating energy resources including catalysts, sacrificial chemical energy sources (e.g., LiAlH4 in many organic reactions), heat, ultrasound, light and high voltage electrical discharge.  Recently, our lab has started investigation of the activation of chemical reactions employing low voltage electrical corona discharge.  We achieve low voltage corona discharge via the application of high aspect ratio materials (i.e. carbon nanotubes) in microreactor channels. Using this approach, we have previously demonstrated efficient and inexpensive methods for advanced oxidation of chemical compounds including the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in wastewater treatment and of sulfur containing species in petrochemical fuels.

In our recent work, microchannel devices were fabricated in order to assess the feasibility of using corona discharge to facilitate the partial oxidation of methane to methanol. A precursor to a predictive, finite-difference model has been constructed for evaluation of the relative importance of reaction engineering parameters. Results of this ongoing research project will be discussed.