High speed carbon dioxide degenerative reaction in Electric/Microwave arc plasma with metal-induced carbon deposition: Onsite carbon capture

• Rapid CO 2 reduction using electric/microwave arc plasma at atmospheric pressure. • Ti and Mg are effective for CO 2 removal but limited by carbide formation. • W shows high resistance to plasma reactions, maintaining structural integrity. • Carbon nanoparticles and NO 2 detected as byproducts, with mitigation strategies proposed. • Promising potential for sustainable CO 2 reduction in industrial applications. In order to avoid the complicated process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and embedding it underground, a fast CO 2 capture technique that allows for onsite elimination is required. This study investigates the potential of using electric/microwave arc plasma with metals to enhance CO 2 decomposition, which normally does not occur without ionization. The research explores the rapid interactions between various metals and CO 2 under atmospheric pressure. In the experimental setup, metals such as gold, copper, aluminum, magnesium, iron, zinc, titanium, and tungsten are exposed to microwaves to induce arc plasma in a controlled chamber. These interactions are analyzed using advanced characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Gas amount and content are monitored via gas chromatography (GC). The results show that microwave arc plasma effectively disintegrates CO 2 , converting it into carbon and carbide. With rapid CO 2 disintegration and metal-induced carbon separation, several metals can be used. While Titanium (Ti) exhibited the fastest reduction rate, Tungsten (W) was identified as the most durable candidate due to its superior thermal stability and resistance to degradation. These findings suggest that electric/microwave arc plasma technology presents a promising and efficient method for CO 2 reduction, with potential implications for climate change mitigation strategies.