Organic reactions in plasma–liquid systems for environmental applications

Plasma-liquid systems are best recognised in biomedicine, where the generation of plasma-treated water and complex organic-containing solutions affords biological effects. However, plasma interactions with liquids are more diverse. In this review, we look from the chemical point of view at the three fields of plasma-liquid interaction in which plasma is used to convert organic substrates. In wastewater treatment, plasma decomposes organic substances: the selectivity towards specific products is less crucial than process energy costs. In the conversion of organic liquids for sustainable energy purposes, the carbon and hydrogen selectivity to syngas are important, but these are still destructive reactions yielding small molecules. Finally, we provide a comprehensive plasma application list for synthetic organic chemistry and discuss their mechanisms and limitations. The unique processes at the plasma-liquid interface Yury GorbanevYury GorbanevYury Gorbanevgenerate much interest for environmental applications involving the conversion of organic substrates: degradation of organic contaminants in wastewater, H2/syngas production from organic substrates, and synthetic organic chemistry. In this review article, these applications are discussed through the lens of nonselective or selective plasma conversion of organics. Special attention is paid to mechanisms and limitations of plasma applications for synthetic organic chemistry as they open new, more environmentally friendly pathways for organic reaction

Plasma-based conversion of martian atmosphere into life-sustaining chemicals: The benefits of utilizing martian ambient pressure

We explored the potential of plasma-based In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) for Mars through the conversion of Martian atmosphere (∼96% CO2, 2% N2, and 2% Ar) into life-sustaining chemicals. As the Martian surface pressure is about 1% of the Earth’s surface pressure, it is an ideal environment for plasma-based gas conversion using microwave reactors. At 1000 W and 10 Ln/min (normal liters per minute), we produced ∼76 g/h of O2 and ∼3 g/h of NOx using a 2.45 GHz waveguided reactor at 25 mbar, which is ∼3.5 times Mars ambient pressure. The energy cost required to produce O2 was ∼0.013 kWh/g, which is very promising compared to recently concluded MOXIE experiments on the Mars surface. This marks a crucial step towards realizing the extension of human exploration

Plasma-based conversion of martian atmosphere into life-sustaining chemicals : the benefits of utilizing martian ambient pressure

Abstract: We explored the potential of plasma-based In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) for Mars through the conversion of Martian atmosphere ( 3c96% CO2, 2% N2, and 2% Ar) into life-sustaining chemicals. As the Martian surface pressure is about 1% of the Earth\u2019s surface pressure, it is an ideal environment for plasma-based gas conversion using microwave reactors. At 1000 W and 10 Ln/min (normal liters per minute), we produced 3c76 g/h of O2 and 3c3 g/h of NOx using a 2.45 GHz waveguided reactor at 25 mbar, which is 3c3.5 times Mars ambient pressure. The energy cost required to produce O2 was 3c0.013 kWh/g, which is very promising compared to recently concluded MOXIE experiments on the Mars surface. This marks a crucial step towards realizing the extension of human exploration