A Duopresentation by Hans Linden, Senior Project Manager / Business Development, TNO and Gerard van Rooij, Professor and Head of Circular Chemical Engineering Department, Maastricht University / Researcher/ Group Leader, DIFFER - Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research<br /><br /><br /><br />Plasma technology can be used to produce hydrogen from methane without CO2 emission, while also forming useful hydrocarbon compounds. This process involves heating to a high temperature using a plasma instead of natural gas.<br /><br />During the production of ammonia and artificial fertilizer, hydrogen is extracted from natural gas (the main component of which is methane). As part of that process, CO2 is generated as a by-product and the majority of that is released into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the total greenhouse gas emissions.<br /><br />By making use of plasma technology, we can utilize methane in an effective way by converting it into hydrogen and high-quality hydrocarbons, such as acetylene and ethene, which forms the basis of plastics, without releasing any CO2.
