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Molteni, Matteo, Walker, Gary, Parmar, Dixit, Sutton, Mike, Licence, Peter 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2992-0153 and Woodward, Simon
(2023)
Can “Electric Flare Stacks” Reduce CO2 Emissions? A Case Study with Nonthermal Plasma.
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 62 (46).
pp. 19649-19657.
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Abstract
Gas flare stacks are the current benchmark technology for industrial pollution control. However, their impact on human health and the environment is not negligible. If net zero CO 2 emissions are to be achieved, their current significant CO 2 impact (400 Mt y -1 globally, 2022) should be reduced. Herein, a model nonthermal plasma “electric flare stack” consuming 6.6% less energy than an equivalent steam aided methane flare, with significant CO 2 emission reductions (between 2.0× and 11.4× lower), when removing isobutylene is demonstrated. Isobutylene streams in air (1.3% v/v) are completely and rapidly consumed (>99% at flow rates up to 125 mL min -1, 1 atm, RT) by the electrically generated nonthermal plasma in a linear flow reactor. At low powers (≤50 J L -1 specific input energy), the major degradation products (>95%) are a complex mixture of low-molecular-weight oxygenates, including acetone, isobutylene oxide, and isobutyraldehyde. Only small amounts of CO/CO 2 (<5% selectivity) are generated (at 50 J L -1). Complete oxidation of isobutylene to CO 2 (>99% selectivity) results when the plasma oxidation is coupled to a heterogeneous catalyst bed. For the optimal V 2O 5 catalyst, synergistic interactions between the plasma and V 2O 5 are evident, as positioning the catalyst after the plasma provides optimal reactor performance (two-stage vs single-stage oxidation). Placement of shorter catalyst beds close to the plasma discharge region gives optimal reactor performance.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Oct 2026 09:18 |
| Last Modified: | 05 Oct 2026 09:18 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104714 |
| DOI: | 10.1021/acs.iecr.3c02909 |
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