Nonthermal Plasma-Assisted Oxidative Decomposition of Dilute Isopropyl Alcohol: Significance of Transition Metal Oxide Integration With the Discharge

A nonthermal plasma (NTP) system integrated with metal oxide (MOx, M = Co, Cu, Mn)-coated glass beads (GBs) was developed to study the plasma-catalyzed breakdown of isopropyl alcohol (IPA). The combined plasma-packed mode was a promising alternative to thermal catalysis, as it enhanced IPA degradation at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. When the discharge zone was filled with GB and MOx/GB, the plasma discharge properties improved, which can be attributed to the enhanced electric field produced by the GBs. In addition, the metal oxide layer serves as a catalytic base for the adsorption and desorption of IPA, and gas phase active species help IPA decomposition. Among the coated materials applied, MnOx/GB + Plasma showed the highest IPA conversion (~70%) and maximum CO2 selectivity (~50%), while only plasma mode showed more CO selectivity. The role of acidic-basic sites and oxygen species has been discussed to better understand the products of plasma-catalytic IPA decomposition.