Production of Hydrogen and Synthesis of Nanodiamonds from Liquid Hydrocarbons

The potential for extracting hydrogen from liquid hydrocarbons using an arc discharge has been studied. Graphite and copper rods were used as electrodes. An electric arc was ignited between the electrodes, which were immersed in diesel fuel at a certain depth to prevent air from entering the discharge zone. In the arc discharge, the hydrocarbons were decomposed almost to the atomic level at currents of approximately 120 A with the reassembling of new molecules of hydrogen and light hydrocarbons. The volatile gaseous fractions contained the following components: H2 (41.6%), CH4 (17.2%), ethane (34%), propane (6%), and isobutane and n-butane (0.27%).