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Plasma-catalytic synthesis of acrylonitrile from methane and nitrogen
  • +2
  • Colin Page,
  • Abner Peralta,
  • Aditya Ponukumati,
  • Marcus Foston,
  • Elijah Thimsen
Colin Page
Washington University in St Louis
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Abner Peralta
Washington University in St Louis
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Aditya Ponukumati
Washington University in St Louis
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Marcus Foston
Washington University in St Louis
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Elijah Thimsen
Washington University in St. Louis

Corresponding Author:elijah.thimsen@wustl.edu

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Abstract

In this work, we demonstrate plasma-catalytic synthesis of hydrogen and acrylonitrile (AN) from CH4 and N2. The process involves two steps: 1) plasma synthesis of C2H2 and HCN in a nominally 1:1 stoichiometric ratio with high yield up to 90% and high methane conversion > 90%; and 2) downstream thermocatalytic reaction of these intermediates to make AN. The effect of process parameters on product distributions and specific energy requirements are reported. If the catalytic conversion of C2H2 and HCN in the downstream thermocatalytic step to AN were perfect, which will require further improvements in the thermocatalytic reactor, then at the maximum output of our 1 kW radiofrequency 13.56 MHz transformer, a specific energy requirement of 73 kWh kgAN-1was determined. The expectation is that scaling up the process to higher throughputs would result in decreases in specific energy requirement into the predicted economically viable range less than 10 kWh kgAN-1.
23 Jun 2023Submitted to AIChE Journal
08 Jul 2023Submission Checks Completed
08 Jul 2023Assigned to Editor
08 Jul 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Jul 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
08 Aug 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
26 Aug 20231st Revision Received
31 Aug 2023Submission Checks Completed
31 Aug 2023Assigned to Editor
31 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
31 Aug 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
08 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Accept