Plasma reforming is a promising technology to transform tars from biomass gasification into valuable fuels and chemicals. However, the key performance (tar conversion, gas yield and energy efficiency) of the plasma tar reforming process can be significantly influenced by operating conditions such as the gas composition. In this study, the effect of CO₂, steam and O₂ on the plasma reforming of toluene, a model tar compound, was investigated in a gliding arc (GA) reactor. Compared to the plasma reforming of toluene with N₂, the presence of oxidative gases (CO₂, H₂O and O₂) can generate a highly reactive plasma environment, thus creating new reaction pathways in the plasma conversion of toluene. The optimal content of CO₂, H₂O and O₂ to balance the toluene conversion, syngas yield and energy efficiency in the plasma reforming was 2 vol%, 4 vol% and 2 vol%, respectively, suggesting that the presence of an appropriate amount of oxidative gas (CO₂, H₂O and O₂) is important to maximize the key performance of the plasma reforming process. The highest toluene conversion of 78.3%, syngas yield of 73.9% and energy efficiency of 69.5 g/kWh were achieved simultaneously in the plasma reforming of toluene containing 4 vol% steam. The reaction pathways in the plasma reforming of toluene have been proposed through the analysis of gas and liquid products coupled with optical emission spectroscopic diagnostics.

等离子重整是将生物质气化产生的焦油转化为有价值的燃料和化学品的有前途的技术。然而，等离子体焦油重整过程的关键性能（焦油转化率、气体产率和能源效率）会受到操作条件（例如气体成分）的显着影响。在这项研究中，在滑弧 (GA) 反应器中研究了 CO ₂、蒸汽和 O ₂对甲苯（一种模型焦油化合物）的等离子体重整的影响。与用 N ₂对甲苯进行等离子体重整相比，氧化性气体（CO ₂、H ₂ O 和 O ₂) 可以产生高反应性的等离子体环境，从而在甲苯的等离子体转化中创造新的反应途径。在等离子体重整中平衡甲苯转化率、合成气产率和能量效率的 CO ₂、H ₂ O 和 O ₂的最佳含量分别为 2 vol%、4 vol% 和 2 vol%，表明存在适当的氧化性气体（CO ₂、H ₂ O 和 O ₂) 对于最大化等离子体重整过程的关键性能很重要。在含有 4 vol% 蒸汽的甲苯的等离子体重整中同时实现了最高的甲苯转化率 78.3%、73.9% 的合成气收率和 69.5 g/kWh 的能源效率。通过分析气体和液体产物并结合光学发射光谱诊断，提出了甲苯等离子体重整的反应途径。