Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Chemical Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Dr. Maria Carreon

Abstract

This study investigates the performance of zirconia-based catalysts in non-thermal plasma (NTP)–assisted dry methane reforming (DMR) for synthesis gas (syngas) production. This work explores an alternative pathway for converting carbon dioxide and methane into valuable products under milder conditions than conventional thermal processes. Experiments were conducted in a radiofrequency plasma reactor to evaluate the effects of plasma power, feed flow rate, and reactant ratios on conversion efficiency. The performance of plasma-only conditions was compared with packed-bed systems using zirconia catalysts. Results show that plasma-only systems achieved modest conversion rates (~16.5% for CH4 and ~12.0% for CO2), while the addition of a silica-packed bed improved conversions to ~38.4% and ~23.4% respectively. Zirconia-packed systems demonstrated significantly enhanced performance, reaching conversion rates up to ~63.7% for CH4 and ~57.2% for CO2. Product selectivity analysis revealed increased syngas formation and reduced byproduct formation in zirconia-assisted systems. Surface characterization using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that zirconia’s oxygen vacancies and redox properties facilitate oxygen mobility, promoting reaction pathways that enhance both conversion and selectivity. Overall, zirconia-based catalysts exhibit strong potential for efficient NTP-assisted DMR, offering improved performance, stability, and selectivity compared to plasma-only and inert systems. These findings support the development of energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable approaches for syngas production.

Keywords

Dry methane reforming, zirconia, plasma

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