EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON PLASMA-ASSISTED MASS CONVERSIONS OF CO2 PURE AND (CO2 + H2) MIXTURE MOLECULES

Abstract

Experimental trials have been carried out on plasma-assisted mass conversions associated with carbon dioxide, which is too stable to react chemically under normal conditions. First, pure gas molecules of CO were charged into a plasma reaction furnace containing a dc 2 glow discharge field between two electrodes of a circular anode and cathode emitting thermal electrons, and the mass-converted species and their respective yields measured by a combined time-of-flight and mass spectrometer technique. Second, mixture molecules of CO2 and H were also tested to seek a possibility of mass conversions into fuel-like species such as CO, CH . CH OH, etc. The experimental results proved that pure CO molecules are 4 3 2 well decomposed into CO with a relatively high yield and that mixture molecules of CO and 2 H are also able to well compose CH , CH OH, etc., with fairly good yields. As a result, 2 4 3 plasma is found to be of great help in promoting direct mass conversions with high efficiency.