Plasma-assisted methane conversion to HCN: the prospect and challenges

The efficient conversion of methane to value-added compounds continues to be a challenging topic in the chemical industry. The industrial preparation of HCN requires methane and ammonia at high temperatures (>1000 degrees C) using precious metal Pt as a catalyst. The comprehensive understanding of the crucial role Pt plays therein has been obtained via concerted gas-phase and condensed-phase investigations. Alternatively, it is possible to inject high-quality energy into the reaction system using plasma technology to convert methane and ammonia to HCN under mild conditions. The selectivity and conversion of this process need further improvement toward industrial application, while the associated fundamental research is also needed in this area. In this perspective, we review the progress in the preparation of HCN from methane, including industrial processes and the newly emerging plasma catalysis, and have a look at the future of plasma-assisted methane conversion to HCN.