Hydrogen Extraction from Plastic Waste via Atmospheric-Pressure Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma

Abstract

We investigate hydrogen production from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic as a plastic waste model using a pin-to-plate streamer dielectric barrier discharge (sDBD) plasma reactor. This design enhances process intensity and efficiency while allowing for scalability and flexibility. Operation with nitrogen and atmospheric pressure conditions achieve hydrogen yield of 3.6 mmol/g-LDPE at an energy cost of 2.7 MWh/kg-H₂.