Conversion of glycerol into syngas by rotating DC arc plasma

One of the most stable byproducts of biodiesel industry is glycerol, for which there’s lack of a large-scale application currently. Thermal plasma treatment is a potentially viable means of recycling glycerol by converting it into syngas. In this work, a rotating DC arc plasma reactor was used to decompose glycerol in order to produce syngas. The effect of plasma input power, glycerol feed rate, and water content in feedstock on the syngas conversion was investigated. It was found that the product gas stream, on an argon-free basis, contained 38% CO and 56% H2, with the balance being methane, ethylene, and little C4 hydrocarbons. Complete carbon conversion and energy conversion efficiency of 66% could be obtained with sufficient input power. Water content of feedstock influenced the amount of CO and H2 in the product gas. Magnetic flux intensity of the reactor showed negligible effect on the composition of the product gas, carbon conversion and energy conversion efficiency, but could prevent the anode and plasma reactor from severe erosion. •A new strategy to decompose glycerol in order to produce syngas.•A self-designed rotating DC arc plasma reactor was used.•Enabled a complete carbon conversion and an energy conversion efficiency of 66%.