Hydrocarbon processing using plasmas has tremendous potential,
yet there still exist many uncertainties pertaining to practical operation
over long durations. Previously, it has been demonstrated that a nonthermal
plasma operating in a DC glow regime can transform methane into C2
species (acetylene, ethylene, ethane) in a microreactor. Using a DC
glow regime in a microchannel reactor allows for lower power consumption,
at the expense of greater consequence of fouling. Since biogas can
be a source of methane, a longevity study was undertaken to understand
how the microreactor system would change over time with a feed mixture
of simulated biogas (CO2, CH4) and air. Two
different biogas mixtures were used, one of which contained 300 ppm
H2S, while the other had no H2S. Potential difficulties
observed from previous experiments included carbon deposition on the
electrodes, which could interfere with the electrical characteristics
of the plasma discharge as well as material deposition in the microchannel,
which could affect gas flow. It was found that raising the temperature
of the system to 120 °C helped prevent hydrocarbon deposition
in the reactor. Purging the reactor periodically with dry air was
also found to have positive effects as it removed carbon buildup on
the electrodes themselves. Successful operation over a 50 h time period
without any significant deterioration was demonstrated.