Abstract

The production of hydrogen from CH4:CO2:H2S (70 % : 30 % : 1000 ppm) mixture, simulating dry biogas in a DBD reactor, supplied with
nanosecond negative pulses, is presented. We have found that sulphur produced from H2S during the process changes the electrical
parameters of the reactor with a RVC electrode. As a result, the production of syngas and the selectivity of methane conversion into
hydrogen, decreases. Due to changed electrical parameters of the reactors, radicals formed from methane recombine into C2 and C3
hydrocarbons more efficiently, resulting in lower production of hydrogen. Major by-product of the methane processing is propane,
concentration of which is comparable to hydrogen.

Key words: hydrogen; biomethane; dielectric barrier discharge; plasma; hydrogen sulphide.