EP4676640A1

EP4676640A1 - Dissociation method and system for dissociating carbon dioxide and/or methane

Info

Publication number: EP4676640A1
Application number: EP24704800.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Annelie STAPELA; Mathys Johannes Rossouw
Original assignee: Microwave Solutions GmbH
Current assignee: Microwave Solutions GmbH
Priority date: 2023-03-08
Filing date: 2024-02-13
Publication date: 2026-01-14
Also published as: CH720593A1; WO2024184026A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a dissociation method and a dissociation system for dissociating carbon dioxide and/or methane components using a microwave plasma. A microwave plasma environment in form of a non-thermal plasma, which is realized as a pulsed microwave plasma by exerting microwave pulses on the plasma, is provided in a reactor chamber (1). Carbon dioxide and/or methane components are introduced into the reactor chamber (1). The non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P) is defined such to dissociate the carbon dioxide and/or methane components into dissociation products, preferably selected from the group of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen, solid carbon, syngas, fuels and/or oxygenates.

Description

Dissociation Method and System for dissociating Carbon Dioxide and/or Methane The invention relates to a dissociation method and a dissociation system for dissociating carbon dioxide and/or methane components using a microwave plasma treatment. Efforts to dissociate carbon dioxide (CO₂) or methane (CH4) using various methods, such as catalytic conversion, photocatalytic or photochemical processes, electrocatalytic or electrochemical processes, enzymatic or biomedical processes, have been studied at length. Methods using a plasma treatment have been found to be very effective. For example, in US 9987611 B1 a non-thermal plasma environment is used to dissociate a hydrocarbon material. A vessel is provided in communication with a first conduit, a second conduit, and a microwave radiation source. A first flow of a hydrocarbon precursor material and a second flow of a plasma forming material are injected into the vessel through the first conduit and the second conduit, respectively. The microwave radiation source exposes the hydrocarbon precursor material and the plasma forming material in the vessel to microwave radiation. The exposure selectively converts the plasma forming material into non-thermal plasma. The non- thermal plasma forms one or more streamers. Within the vessel, the hydrocarbon precursor material is exposed to the streamers. The exposure of the hydrocarbon precursor material to both the microwave radiation and the formed streamers selectively converts the hydrocarbon precursor material to carbon enriched materials and hydrogen enriched materials. In “Non-thermal plasma technology for the conversion of CO₂” Bryony Ashford, Xin Tu, Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L693GJ, UK, methods of carbon dioxide conversion are discussed that use a non-thermal plasma environment. In comparison to other processes, it is a simple and fast process: plasma has the potential to enable thermodynamically unfavorable chemical reactions to occur at ambient conditions. Non-thermal plasma can be operated at atmospheric pressure whilst still generating highly active species and electrons. The main challenge associated with the utilization of non- thermal plasma for carbon dioxide is overcoming the high stability of the carbon dioxide molecule, as a high energy input is required to break the C=O double bond and dissociate the molecule. There is a trade-off between energy efficiency and carbon dioxide conversion when using plasma processes as conversion increases when energy input is raised, which in turn causes a decrease in energy efficiency of the carbon dioxide dissociation process. To address this challenge and facilitate the conversion process in the non-thermal plasma environment it is suggested to add catalysts. For example, in W02010/033530 A3, ammonia (NH3) is produced by introducing nitrogen (N₂), carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H2O) into a non-thermal plasma in the presence of a catalyst, the catalyst being effective to promote the disassociation of N2, CO and water to form reactants that in turn react to produce ammonia and methane. A reactive hydrogen ion or free radical is produced by the method comprising of passing water through a non-thermal plasma in the presence of a catalyst, the catalyst being effective to promote the dissociation of water. However, when it comes to plasma-catalysis, the chemistry becomes even more complex due to the interactions occurring between the plasma and catalyst. The number of different catalysts that can be employed in plasma processes, along with variations in catalyst preparation method, loading amount, pre- treatment etc., make it tricky to use a ‘one size fits all’ approach. It is an object of the invention to provide a dissociation method and a dissociation system for dissociating carbon dioxide and/or methane components that are cost and energy efficient, are designed as a simple setup and are easy to execute, and increase the yield of dissociation products. These and other objects, which will appear from the description below, are achieved by a dissociation method and a dissociation system as set forth in the appended independent claims. Preferred embodiments and variants are defined in the dependent claims. A dissociation method for dissociating carbon dioxide and/or methane components using a microwave plasma treatment according to the present invention comprises the following steps. In a reactor chamber, a microwave plasma environment is achieved by irradiating a plasma material using microwave radiation. Carbon dioxide and/or methane components are introduced into the reactor chamber and into the microwave plasma environment. The microwave plasma environment is a non- thermal plasma, which is realized as a pulsed microwave plasma by exerting microwave pulses on the plasma material. The non- thermal, pulsed microwave plasma is defined to dissociate the carbon dioxide and/or methane components into dissociation products. Advantageously, the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma is defined such that the dissociation products are selected from the group of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen, solid carbon, syngas, fuels and/or oxygenates. A dissociation system for executing the dissociation method comprises at least one reactor chamber for accommodating the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma and at least one microwave generator and plasma applicator for generating the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma in the reactor chamber. The reactor chamber comprises at least one inlet for injecting the carbon dioxide and/or methane components into the reactor chamber and exposing the components to the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma, and at least one outlet for extracting dissociation products from the reactor chamber. For example, carbon dioxide (CO₂) or methane (CH₄) can be used as a plasma material. The material is treated by the microwave generator and the plasma applicator to only thermalize electrons of the material. The resulting plasma is not in thermodynamic equilibrium, because the temperature of the electron is much hotter than the temperature of heavy particles of the material, i. e. ions and neutrals. The characteristics of the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma are defined to match specific requirements for achieving specific dissociation products. For example, the different dissociation products in form of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen, syngas, fuels and/or oxygenates may require different energies to be dissociated. Also, some plasma materials are more suitable for some dissociation products than for others. For example, at 1800 C ^ - 2200 C ^ carbon dioxide will dissociate into carbon monoxide and oxygen. At greater temperatures, carbon dioxide will form carbon nanomaterials and oxygen. At temperatures below 1500 C ^ methane will form short-chained hydrocarbons (C₂H₆, C₂H₂, C₃H₈, C₃H₆, etc.) and hydrogen. At greater temperatures the selectivity of shot-chained hydrocarbons will decrease and the selectivity of hydrogen and carbon-based materials will increase. If carbon dioxide and methane is used together, water (H₂O) will be formed as a product together with short- chained hydrocarbons and carbon materials. As previously stated, the addition of nitrogen (N2) and water to carbon monoxide (and thus carbon dioxide, as carbon dioxide will dissociate to carbon monoxide) will result in the production of ammonia (NH₃). Preferably, a microwave frequency and/or microwave pulse width is selected according to dissociation parameters of the selected dissociation products (need examples). For example, for carbon dioxide a reaction time of 50 – 250 milliseconds can be used. The microwave frequency and microwave pulse define the properties of the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma for a specific dissociation product. For example, The microwave frequency and microwave pulse is different for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen, syngas, fuels, and oxygenates pulse lengths of 250ms allow the dissociation of CO2 to complete. The combination of selective microwave frequency and appropriate pulse widths allow efficient conversion and high product yields to be achieved for different reagent mixes. Advantageously, the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma stimulates vibrational excitation modes in the carbon dioxide (CO2) and/or methane (CH4) components. For the molecular dissociation of carbon dioxide or methane, vibrational excitation leads to a more efficient process than non- vibrational modes. The process is faster and requires less energy. The non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma is capable of effectively stimulating the vibrational modes and is ideal for CO2 or CH4 conversion displaying some of the desired characteristics of high electron number density and thermal non-equilibrium between the electron temperature and the heavy particle gas temperature. In one variant of the dissociation method, the non- thermal, pulsed microwave plasma is generated by a microwave radiation at frequencies between 300 MHz and 40000 MHZ. For example, lower frequencies within this range are recommended for carbon dioxide. Higher frequencies within this range are recommended for methane. In a further variant of the dissociation method according to the present invention, a controlled atmosphere is realized in the reactor chamber, which varies a pressure in the reactor chamber to modify a plasma temperature depending on the selected dissociation product. For example as mentioned above, at temperatures higher than 2200 C ^ carbon dioxide will form carbon nanomaterials and oxygen. Furthermore, the controlled atmosphere can be defined as a vacuum atmosphere, which creates a negative pressure in the reactor chamber. Defining the controlled atmosphere as needed for specific input components and/or specific dissociation products also assists in defining the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma conditions for dissociation of the carbon dioxide and/or methane components. In a still further variant of the dissociation method according to the present invention the controlled atmosphere can be realized as a reactive atmosphere in the reactor chamber, to modify the products formed during dissociation. The reactive atmosphere can be created by reactive gases, such as hydrogen, steam, carbon monoxide, methane, benzene or a mixture of reactive gases, such as contained in syngas. Preferably the syngas formed during the process is partially recycled through the reactor to promote alternate reactions or increase the yield of target liquid or gas products. The reactive atmosphere can be determined according to the input products and/or output products. Therefore, it can vary depending what kind of dissociation product shall be produced by the dissociation method. In another variant of the dissociation method according to the present invention volatile components being present after the input components passed the plasma environment are extracted from the reactor chamber and subjected to fractional condensation for successive extraction of dissociation products using a fractional condensation unit of the dissociation system. For example, the volatile components form a vapor mixture, which is cooled in steps causing successive condensation of different dissociation products. For example, the fractional condensation process comprises the steps of a fast extraction of volatiles for reducing volatile residence time in the reactor chamber. Next, the volatile gases are condensed into different fractional components. Optionally, the fractioned components are subjected to a further fractional condensation to isolate at least one more valuable chemical. In an advantageous variant of the dissociation method according to the present invention a low microwave energy is continuously exerted on the microwave plasma in between high microwave energy pulses. The low microwave energy is for example in the range of 300 MHZ to 40 GHZ. While the non- thermal, pulsed microwave plasma oscillates in energy pulses, the application of a low microwave energy maintains a plasma with continuous properties. The use of a low-level continuous microwave input to sustain the plasma during the intervals between the high-power microwave pulses assists in defining a controlled atmosphere for the dissociation process. The low energy microwave input may be provided by the microwave generator producing the microwave pulses. That means the microwave generator produces a constant low level microwave output with pulses superimposed on it. Alternatively, a second microwave generator may be provided, which steadily operates at the same microwave frequency, or indeed a different frequency from the pulsed microwave source. In a further variant of the dissociation method according to the present invention carbon dioxide is dissociated in the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma by dry reforming with methane. Dry reforming produces synthesis gas, a mixtures of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, from the reaction of carbon dioxide with methane with the aid of noble metal catalysts, such as Ni or Ni-alloys). Dry reforming of methane using CO₂ has the benefit of utilizing two greenhouse gases in a single process. Advantageously, the dissociation system is designed such that gas components that are not dissociated in the non- thermal, pulsed microwave plasma can be recycled through the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma for a further treatment. Also, dissociation products produced by the dissociation method can be returned into the process for example to create a reactive atmosphere to facilitate the dissociation process. The dissociation system according to the present invention may comprises a control unit for generating the non- thermal, pulsed microwave plasma in the reactor chamber comprising a microwave frequency and/or microwave pulse width modified according to dissociation parameters of the selected dissociation products. The control unit comprises a microwave radiation control for generating a pulsed microwave plasma in the reactor chamber comprising pulses of microwave energy. The pulsed microwave plasma then stimulates vibrational excitation modes in the input products. The microwave radiation controls the application of microwave radiation at frequencies between 300 MHz and 40000 MHz. Further, the control unit may comprise an atmosphere control unit to control the atmosphere in the reactor chamber. For example, the atmosphere control unit controls the application of a pressure in the chamber or the addition of a reactive gas to define a reactive atmosphere in the chamber. Also, the control unit can monitor a temperature in the reactor chamber and adjust the temperature in case needed for the dissociation process of an input product or to achieve a selected output product. In an advantageous embodiment of the dissociation system according to the present invention the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma is accommodated in a plasma tube, which extends through at least one reactor chamber. Preferably the plasma tube is subsequently extending through a first reactor chamber and a second reactor chamber. The input products are exposed to the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma in the plasma tube. Dissociated products travel through the plasma tube and are extracted through the outlets in the plasma tube or the reaction chamber. In a further embodiment of the dissociation system according to the present invention a pump is connected to the reactor chamber or the plasma tube accommodating the non- thermal, pulsed microwave plasma for regulating a pressure in the reactor chamber or the plasma tube. The pump can be controlled by the control unit to create a pressure in the chamber. Further, the pump can deliver the dissociation products into a gas storage facility connected to the outlet. Advantageously, dissociation system includes microwave plasma generators with solid state shaping that allows the amplitude and shape of the microwave pulses to be accurately controlled, and in turn for the specific control of the plasma temperature. Active impedance matching circuits ensure reliable plasma ignition and efficient power transfer during operation. The active impedance matching circuit may be fitted between the microwave plasma generator and the plasma chamber. It continually adjusts to match the load impedance presented by the plasma, to the microwave transmission line, ensuring maximum power transfer to the plasma under all plasma conditions. In summary, the current invention relates to a pulsed non-thermal, non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma system for the dissociation and/or utilisation of carbon dioxide and/or methane. The method is preferably conducted under vacuum or controlled gas atmosphere and includes a fractional condensation process and system as part thereof. Microwave radiation used is in the range of 300 MHz to about 40 GHz. The Pulsed non-thermal, non-equilibrium microwave plasma system can be used with or without a catalyst, wherein the catalyst can be in the plasma or part of the post plasma process. The dissociation method is based on carbon dioxide dissociation: 2CO₂ → 2CO + O₂ and methane dissociation: CH4 → C+ H4. The dissociation method is suitable for the dry reforming of carbon dioxide with methane: CO₂ + CH₄ → 2CO + 2H₂ ∆H_o=247 kJ/mol Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in the accompanying drawings, which may explain the principles of the invention but shall not limit the scope of the invention. The drawings illustrate: Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a first dissociation system according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 a schematic diagram of a second dissociation system according to the present invention. In the following, two example embodiments of a dissociation system according to the present invention are described which are suitable to perform a dissociation method for dissociating carbon dioxide and/or methane components using a microwave plasma treatment according to the invention. Features that are disclosed for one of the embodiments can also be applied for the other embodiment without the need for further development as will be apparent for a person skilled in the art. Repetitive description of such features therefore is avoided for the sake of clarity. Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a dissociation system for executing the dissociation method for dissociating carbon dioxide and/or methane components according to the present invention. The dissociation system comprises a reaction chamber 1 for accommodating a microwave plasma environment, a microwave generator 2 and a plasma applicator in form of a plasma tube 3 for generating a non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma P in the reactor chamber 1. Three inlets 4 for injecting carbon dioxide and/or methane components and other gas reagents into the reaction chamber 1 are provided at an inlet end of the plasma tube 3. The inlet end of the plasma tube is located before the plasma tube intersects with the reactor chamber 1, where the inlet products interact with the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma. An outlet end of the plasma tube 3, in flow direction located after the reactor chamber 1, comprises an outlet 5 for extracting dissociation products from the reaction chamber. The outlet 5 is designed as an outlet pipeline, wherein a cooling unit 6 and a pump unit 7 are arranged in the pipeline. The outlet 5 ends in a storage unit 8 for storing dissociation products produced by the dissociation method. A connection pipe 9 connects the storage unit 8 with the inlet end of the plasma tube 3. Dissociation products or inlet products which did not dissociate can be recycled to the dissociation process through the connection pipe 9 back into the plasma tube 3. An alternative connection pipe 9’ connects the storage unit 8 to the plasma tube so that dissociation products can be introduced into the plasma tube 3 and the reactor chamber 1 directly. Advantageously, the plasma tube 3 passes through the rector chamber 1 in a location where the microwave field is concentrated. The microwave generator 2 injects pulsed microwave fields into the plasma reactor chamber 1 and ionizes a plasma material in the plasma tube 3. The input gases carbon dioxide and methane and other gases are mixed and injected as reaction gases into the plasma reactor in the correct ratios. The Gibbs Free Energy of CO2 favours the production of CO and O2-/O2, while CH₄ will dissociate into solid carbon structures, such as carbon black and/or carbon nanomaterials; carbon based materials; short-chained hydrocarbons (C₂H₆, C₂H₂, C₃H₈, C₃H₆, etc.) and H₂, when dissociated separately at mild temperatures. If carbon dioxide and methane are simultaneously exposed to the plasma, water (H₂O) will be formed as a product together with solid carbon structures, such as carbon black and/or carbon nanomaterials as well as short-chained hydrocarbons. These carbon-based materials may include oxygenated short-chained hydrocarbons such as formaldehyde (CH₂O), acetaldehyde and ethylene oxide (C2H4O), methanol (CH3OH), etc. This is due to the oxygen radical (O₂-) from carbon dioxide dissociation, reacting with an unsaturated hydrocarbon from methane. Therefore, if carbon dioxide is the limiting reagent, less oxygenated hydrocarbons and water is expected. The following relation can be expected: CH4 < 20 mol% ~ solid carbon materials; mostly oxygenated hydrocarbons and water; low amounts of CO; short-chained hydrocarbons and hydrogen. CH₄ > 60 mol% ~ solid carbon materials; mostly short- chained hydrocarbons and hydrogen with low amounts of water and CO. In addition to the reaction gases for producing dissociation products, a reactive medium, e.g. hydrogen or an inert carrier gas like Argon can also be injected into the plasma reactor through inlets 4. Such reactive media can be used to create and define a controlled atmosphere and/or a reactive atmosphere in the reactor chamber 1. The cooling unit 6 tempers the dissociation product gases. The pump unit 7 regulates the pressure in the plasma tube 3 and delivers the dissociation product gases into the gas storage unit 8. The pump unit 7 may regulate the pressure in the plasma tube 3 at sub-atmospheric levels to produce a low temperature plasma, or at higher pressures to facilitate higher plasma temperatures. The gas storage unit 8 may include a membrane filter or other filter device to separate different gas species of the dissociation products. Unreacted gas may then be recycled through the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma P via the connection pipes 9 or 9’ to increase the yield of the dissociation method. The final dissociation products can be extracted from the storage unit 8 for further use or processing. In a variation of this example the microwave generator 2 can be configured to produce microwave pulses superimposed on a smaller continuous microwave waveform. The purpose of the continuous waveform is to assist in sustaining the non- thermal, pulsed microwave plasma P between pulses. In another variation of the illustrated dissociation system all or some of the inlet reaction gases may be injected into the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma P some distance along the length of the plasma or the plasma tube 3, respectively. Introducing the inlet products along the length of the plasma modifies the exposure time of the gases to the plasma. For this purpose the plasma tube 3 may comprise several inlet ports (not shown) distanced from each other along the plasma tube 3 at varying levels in flow direction. Depending on the required exposure time of an inlet gas to the defined non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma existing in the reactor chamber 1 a specific inlet port can be chosen which matches a desired exposure time when the inlet gas enters the production flow. Further, these inlet ports may be used to introduce a quenching gas to rapidly cool the dissociation products and other gases exiting the reactor chamber 1. Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a dissociation system for executing the dissociation method for dissociating carbon dioxide and/or methane components according to the present invention. In contrast to the first embodiment, the dissociation system comprises the first reactor chamber 1 and the first microwave generator 2 and additionally a second reactor chamber 1’ and a second microwave generator 2’. The plasma tube 3 extends in flow direction of input gases through the first reactor chamber 1 and then through the second reactor chamber 1’. The dissociation products and reaction gases exit the plasma tube 3 through an outlet end of the plasma tube as described for the first embodiment shown in Figure 1. A first and a second waveguide filter 10 and 10’ are provided between the microwave generator 2 and 2’ and the respective reactor chamber 1 and 1’. As mentioned before the second embodiment contains all the features of the first embodiment, but introduces the second microwave generator 2’ as a second microwave power for the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma P. The first microwave generator 2 serves as a continuous microwave source, connected to the reactor chamber 1 and the plasma tube 3, wherein the inlet gases are ionized. The second microwave generator 2’ is connected to the second reactor chamber 1’ in a similar manner, with the plasma tube 3 passing through both plasma reactors. The second microwave generator 2’ serves as a pulsed microwave source to create the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma P in the plasma tube 3. The microwave waveguide filters 10 and 10’ are utilized between the second microwave generators and the reactor chambers to prevent energy from the first microwave generator 2 from reaching the microwave generator 2’ and negatively affect its operation, and vice versa. In a variation of the second embodiment the two microwave generators may be attached to the same reactor chamber, superimposing their microwave outputs and increasing the power density in the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma. The dissociation method according to the present invention may include a catalytic process, wherein the carbon dioxide and/or methane components and/or intermediate products are subjected to a catalytic process in the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma and/or as part of a post plasma process. The catalytic process can be a catalytic conversion, photocatalytic or photochemical processes, electrocatalytic or electrochemical processes, enzymatic or biomedical processes as known from the prior art. Carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gasses are a negative by-product from the burning of fossil fuels and contribute to global warming. The dissociation method of the present invention plays an important part of climate change mitigating strategies. The dissociation method is energy efficient because of the low energy consumption for creating the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma, which processes the input products at a lower temperature a plasma in equilibrium. Further, the method allows for an increased throughput of greenhouse gases.

List of Reference Numbers 1, 1’ reactor chamber 2, 2’ microwave generator 3 plasma tube 4 inlet 5 outlet 6 cooling unit 7 pump unit 8 storage unit 9, 9’ connection pipe 10, 10’ waveguide filter

Claims

– 1 – Patent Claims 1. Dissociation method for dissociating carbon dioxide and/or methane components using a microwave plasma treatment comprising the steps of: - providing a microwave plasma environment in a reactor chamber (1), and - introducing carbon dioxide and/or methane components into the reactor chamber (1), wherein the microwave plasma environment is a non-thermal plasma, which is realized as a pulsed microwave plasma by exerting microwave pulses on the plasma, and wherein the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P) is defined to dissociate the carbon dioxide and/or methane components into dissociation products, preferably selected from the group of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen, solid carbon, syngas, fuels and/or oxygenates. 2. Dissociation method according to claim 1, wherein the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P) stimulates vibrational excitation modes in the carbon dioxide and/or methane components. 3. Dissociation method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P) is generated by a microwave radiation at frequencies between 300 MHz and 40000 MHZ. 4. Dissociation method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a controlled atmosphere in the reactor chamber (1) varies a pressure in the reactor chamber (1) to modify a plasma temperature depending on the selected dissociation product. – 2 – 5. Dissociation method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a microwave energy is continuously exerted on the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P), wherein the continuous microwave energy is lower than the energy of the microwave pulses. 6. Dissociation method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein carbon dioxide is dissociated in the non- thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P) by dry reforming with methane. 7. Dissociation method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein volatile components extracted from the reactor chamber (1) are subjected to fractional condensation for successive extraction of dissociation products. 8. Dissociation method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a microwave frequency and/or microwave pulse width is selected according to dissociation parameters of the selected dissociation products. 9. Dissociation method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carbon dioxide and/or methane components and/or intermediate products are subjected to a catalytic process in the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P) and/or as part of a post plasma process. 10. Dissociation method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein gas components that are not dissociated in the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma are recycled through the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P). – 3 – 11. Dissociation system for dissociating carbon dioxide and/or methane components using a dissociation method including a microwave plasma treatment according to one of the claims 1 to 10, comprising - at least one reactor chamber (1, 1’) for accommodating the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P), - at least one microwave generator (2, 2’) and plasma applicator for generating the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P) in the at least one reactor chamber (1, 1’), - at least one inlet (4) for injecting the carbon dioxide and/or methane components into the at least one reactor chamber (1, 1’) and exposing the components to the non- thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P), and - at least one outlet (5) for extracting dissociation products from the reactor chamber (1, 1’). 12. Dissociation system according to claim 11, comprising a control unit, which comprises a control unit for generating the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P) in the at least one reactor chamber (1, 1’) comprising a microwave frequency and/or microwave pulse width modified according to dissociation parameters of the selected dissociation products. 13. Dissociation system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P) is accommodated in a plasma tube (3), which extends through at least one reactor chamber, preferably the plasma tube (3) is subsequently extending through a first reactor chamber (1) and a second reactor chamber (1’). – 4 – 14. Dissociation system according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein a pump unit 7 is connected to the at least one reactor chamber (1, 1’) or the plasma tube (3) accommodating the non-thermal, pulsed microwave plasma (P) for regulating a pressure in the at least one reactor chamber (1, 1’) or the plasma tube (3). 15. Dissociation system according to one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the at least one reactor chamber (1, 1’) comprises an active impedance matching circuit for plasma ignition in the at least one reactor chamber (1, 1’).