Nonthermal atmospheric plasma reactors for hydrogen production from low-density polyethylene

Hydrogen is largely produced via natural gas reforming or electrochemical water-splitting, leaving organic solid feedstocks under-utilized. Plasma technology powered by renewable electricity can lead to the sustainable upcycling of plastic waste and production green hydrogen. In this work, low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma reactors based on transferred arc (transarc) gliding (glidarc) discharges are designed, built, characterized produce hydrogen from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as a model waste. Experimental results show that rate efficiency increase monotonically with increasing voltage level in both reactors, maximum 0.33 0.42 mmol/g LDPE for transarc glidarc respectively. For reactor, smaller electrode-feedstock spacing favors greater production, whereas, obtained at intermediate flow rates. The comparable despite markedly different modes operation between two reactors.