Hydrogen production from ethanol using dielectric barrier discharge

This article presents the process of hydrogen production from a mixture of water and ethanol in a plasma reactor. No additional gases facilitating the formation of plasma were introduced into the reactor. The highest value of total conversion of ethanol was 71%. The cooled gases contained from 48 to 56% of hydrogen and a lot of carbon monoxide from 17 to 21%. Methane, ethylene, ethane and carbon dioxide were present in smaller amounts. Soot formed in the process was removed from the reactor in the gas stream and did not interfere with the operation of the reactor. The best energy yield for hydrogen production was 6.15 mol(H2) h−1. •Water and ethanol were introduced into the barrier discharge in liquid phase.•Hydrogen was produced from water and ethanol without introducing additional gases.•The highest ethanol conversion was 71%.•The higher energy yield of hydrogen production was 6.15 mol(H2) kWh−1.