Plasma catalysis effect in methane degradation

Experimental data on the use of plasma catalysis in methane conversion into carbon and hydrogen are presented and its mechanism is proposed. Methane p reheated to 400-800 degrees C was treated for a short time with a pulsed mi crowave discharge, which led to a dramatic increase in its degree of conver sion. It was shown that this effect cannot be explained by thermal action o f the discharge, and the role of plasma consists in generation of reactive species that accelerate the conversion process. Theoretical consideration s howed that, most likely, these species are ions and that catalytic degradat ion occurs by the ion-cluster mechanism.