No abstract

A plasma process for making cyanide from nitrogen and hydrocarbon (methane and propane) has been successfully demonstrated, which can directly fix atmospheric nitrogen into hydrocarbons. Nitrogen serves as both the plasma gas and the primary reactant. The thermodynamic analysis as well as the experimental outcome indicates that it is feasible to achieve very high conversion of hydrocarbons into cyanide by increasing the partial pressure of nitrogen gas within the reaction mixture, but the high conversion comes at a cost of an increase in total energy consumption and was detrimental to process energy efficiency. Hence, the process was optimized based on specific energy consumption (SEC) instead of conversion. The conversion with respect to nitrogen and hydrocarbon ratio follows thermodynamic prediction. The primary byproducts obtained were hydrogen, acetylene, and soot. The laboratory system was stable and could be run for extended periods, achieving a minimal SEC of approximately 15.5 kW h/kg NaCN.

The public reporting burden for this collection of information Is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-01881, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number.

No abstract