Draft:Albin Czernichowski

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Albin Czernichowski
Albin Czernichowski in 2024, standing in front of a prototype system using the GlidArc plasma process for converting heterogeneous carbon-based feedstock into high-quality syngas
Albin Czernichowski (2024)
NationalityPolish, French
Alma materWrocław University of Science and Technology
Known forGliding arc discharge (GlidArc)
Scientific career
FieldsPlasma chemistry, Plasma physics
InstitutionsWrocław University of Science and Technology; University of Orléans (GREMI/CNRS)
ThesisBadania nad rozkładem stałych substancji nieorganicznych w plazmie termicznej (Study of the Decomposition of Inorganic Solids in the Thermal Plasma) (1965)
Doctoral advisorWłodzimierz Trzebiatowski

Albin Czernichowski is a Polish–French chemist and physicist, inventor, specializing in plasma chemistry. He was a professor at Wrocław University of Science and Technology and later at the University of Orléans in France (until 2005). He was a member of the Low-Temperature Plasma Chemistry Commission at the Lublin Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences.[1] He is known for his contribution to the development of gliding arc discharge (GlidArc).[2][3][4] He worked on pioneering applications of non-thermal plasma in environmental protection[5] and in the production of syngas.[6]

Biography

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Early life and education

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In his childhood he showed an interest in chemistry and physicochemical processes; at the age of 12 he constructed his first setup for pyrolysis (dry distillation).[7]


He earned a Ph.D. in 1965 at the Faculty of Chemistry of Wrocław University of Science and Technology with a dissertation titled Badania nad rozkładem stałych substancji nieorganicznych w plazmie termicznej (Study of the decomposition of inorganic solids in thermal plasma) supervised by Prof. Włodzimierz Trzebiatowski.[8] He obtained a habilitation in 1971 with the thesis Laserowa i spektralna diagnostyka pseudorównowagowej plazmy argonowej i neonowej (Laser and spectral diagnostics of pseudo-equilibrium argon and neon plasmas).[9]

Academic career

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At Wrocław University of Science and Technology he headed the Plasma Physicochemistry Department at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Metallurgy of Rare Elements, developing research on the application of plasma in chemical and analytical processes.[10] He also conducted research for the U.S. National Bureau of Standards (now NIST) within Polish-American cooperation.[11][12]

From 1981 to 2005 he was a professor of physics at the University of Orléans, working within the GREMI laboratory (Groupe de Recherches sur l’Énergétique des Milieux Ionisés), a joint unit with the CNRS.[13][14]

Entrepreneurship

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In 1997 he founded Etudes Chimiques et Physiques (ECP) – GlidArc Technologies in La Ferté-Saint-Aubin (France), where he led R&D and commercialization of his inventions,[13][15] including syngas generation from waste gases, liquids and solids. In 2019 he became chief scientist at Warsaw-based mPower Green Tech.[7]

Contributions to science, technology and industry

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He is the author or co-author of 41 peer-reviewed papers indexed in Web of Science[16] and additional publications,[17] as well as four textbooks and monographs (including a chapter in Titanium and titanium dioxide technology).[18] According to Scopus, he has an h-index of 10 with 47 publications cited 967 times.[19]

He is named as inventor or co-inventor on 44 patent filings related to gas processing technologies and hydrocarbon synthesis,[20] including applications for Électricité de France (EDF),[21] Rhone-Poulenc,[22] British Petroleum,[23] the CEA, [24] Ceramatec Inc.,[25] and Florida Syngas.[26] More recent filings include: a horizontal gasifier[27] and an oxidation-reduction plasma reactor for processing wastes into clean syngas.[28]


He developed GlidArc devices utilizing the gliding arc discharge phenomenon,[29] applied in gas conversion,[7][6] biofuel production,[30] and flue-gas cleaning.[31] In particular, his devices have been used for:

  • methane pyrolysis,[32]
  • abatement of VOCs such as toluene, xylene and heptane,[33] as well as SOₓ and NOₓ,[34] methyl mercaptan,[35] hydrogen sulfide and nitrous oxide;[5]
  • reforming of glycerol,[36] methane,[32] and propane, for syngas production;[37]
  • production of zero-emission hydrogen (H₂),[7]
  • removal of tars and other contaminants from process gases from biomass gasification to produce clean syngas.[38]


References

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  1. ^ "Komisje Naukowe" [Scientific Commissions]. Polska Akademia Nauk, Oddział w Lublinie (in Polish). Polish Academy of Sciences, Lublin Branch. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  2. ^ Fridman, Alexander (February 2024). Plasma Science and Technology: Lectures in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Engineering. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. p. 718. ISBN 978-3-527-34954-8. Retrieved 2025-04-09. (...) Professor Albin Czernichowski, one of the founders and great enthusiast of the gliding arc discharges, their physics, engineering, and wide range of applications
  3. ^ Wnukowski, Mateusz (2023-09-06). "Methane Pyrolysis with the Use of Plasma: Review of Plasma Reactors and Process Products". Energies. 16 (18): 6441. doi:10.3390/en16186441. ISSN 1996-1073. The concept of the gliding arc is attributed to A. Czernichowski
  4. ^ Krupski, Piotr (2024). "Design and Visualization of the Ten-Electrode GlidArc Plasma Reactor Using the Autodesk Inventor Environment". Advances in Science and Technology Research Journal. 18 (7): 192–202. doi:10.12913/22998624/193012. Retrieved 2025-04-09. ...Albin Czernichowski and the team from the Plasma Physics Laboratory of the University of Orléans... can be considered a forerunner in the development of GAD Plasma.
  5. ^ a b Brisset, Jean-Louis; Moussa, David; Doubla, Avaly; Hnatiuc, Eugen; Hnatiuc, Bogdan (2008). "Chemical reactivity of discharges and temporal post-discharges in plasma treatment of aqueous media: examples of gliding discharge treated solutions". Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. 47 (16): 5761–5781. doi:10.1021/ie701759y. Retrieved 2025-04-09. The gliding discharge (or "glidarc") was proposed by Lesueur et al. and developed by Czernichowsky et al. for the treatment of gases. For example, the gliding arc technique was used for removing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) or N2O from gases of industrial interest. The technique was also applied to the partial oxidation and conversion of light hydrocarbons or more directly to the preparation of syngas and the destruction of VOCs. (...) Development of the Reactor for Gas Treatment. Several people have worked on improving the gliding discharge reactor for gas treatments, and the first one among them was actually Czernichowski. He proposed using various settings of the electrodes and claimed using a three-phase, three-electrode device for removing H2S as early as 1993. He multiplied the number of stages and that of electrodes; for example, the Glidarc II was fitted with 4 stages and 16 electrodes. The device was successfully used for the destruction of VOCs.
  6. ^ a b Mutaf-Yardimci, Ozlem; Saveliev, Alexei V.; Fridman, Alexander A.; Kennedy, Lawrence A. (2000-02-15). "Thermal and nonthermal regimes of gliding arc discharge in air flow". Journal of Applied Physics. 87 (4): 1632–1641. Bibcode:2000JAP....87.1632M. doi:10.1063/1.372071. Retrieved 2025-04-09. In the early 1990's, the Gliding Arc again became popular after Czernichowski demonstrated the successful use of it in number of chemical processes. Most of the recent applications are focused on gas conversions and decontamination processes such as carbon dioxide or steam reforming of methane to produce synthesis gas (CO + H2); oxidation of low concentration H2S into SO2 for pollution control; and volatile organic compounds treatment for environmental protection.
  7. ^ a b c d Chudzyńska-Stępień, Natalia (2022-07-10). "Polski naukowiec wynalazł sposób na łatwe i tanie pozyskiwanie bezemisyjnego wodoru" [Polish scientist found an easy and inexpensive way to obtain zero-emission hydrogen]. Forbes Polska (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-03-20.
  8. ^ Czernichowski, Albin (1965). Badania nad rozkładem stałych substancji nieorganicznych w plazmie termicznej [Studies on the decomposition of inorganic solids in thermal plasma] (PhD thesis) (in Polish). Wrocław: Wrocław University of Science and Technology. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
  9. ^ "DONA ID: 4486. Habilitacja. Albin Czernichowski" [DONA ID: 4486. Habilitation record: Albin Czernichowski]. Dorobek naukowy Politechniki Wrocławskiej (DONA) (in Polish). Wrocław University of Science and Technology. Retrieved 2025-03-08. „Laserowa i spektralna diagnostyka pseudorównowagowej plazmy argonowej i neonowej" — habilitacja, 1971. ["Laser and spectral diagnostics of pseudo-equilibrium argon and neon plasmas" — habilitation, 1971.]
  10. ^ 75 lat Wydziału Chemicznego Politechniki Wrocławskiej [75 years of the Faculty of Chemistry of Wrocław University of Science and Technology] (in Polish). Wrocław: Politechnika Wrocławska. 2021. ISBN 978-83-7493-385-8. Retrieved 2025-04-09. (...) w Instytucie działał Zakład Fizykochemii Plazmy (kierownik doc. Albin Czernichowski) (...) Pionierskie w Polsce były badania nad fizykochemią i technologią plazmy. Skonstruowano (Albin Czernichowski) w tym celu dwa plazmotrony o mocy 15 i 100 kW stabilizowane wirem wodnym oraz plazmotron 20 kW stabilizowany azotem oraz plazmotron argonowy 12 kW. Plazmę wykorzystywano do badania rozkładu minerałów (głównie ilmenitu), do syntezy wielu związków nieorganicznych (m.in. tlenku azotu) oraz redukcji tlenków za pomocą wodoru. [... within the Institute, the Plasma Physicochemistry Department (headed by Assoc. Prof. Albin Czernichowski) was active ... Research on the physicochemistry and technology of plasma was pioneering in Poland. For this purpose (Albin Czernichowski) constructed two plasma torches of 15 and 100 kW stabilized by a water vortex, as well as a 20 kW nitrogen-stabilized plasma torch and a 12 kW argon plasma torch. Plasma was used to study the decomposition of minerals (mainly ilmenite), to synthesize many inorganic compounds (including nitrogen oxide), and to reduce oxides using hydrogen.]
  11. ^ Wiese, W. L.; Fuhr, J. R. (1975-04-01). "Atomic transition probabilities for scandium and titanium (A critical data compilation of allowed lines)". Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data. 4 (2): 263–352. Bibcode:1975JPCRD...4..263W. doi:10.1063/1.555519. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
  12. ^ Czernichowski, A.; Hołys, A.; Roberts, J. R. (1977). "Transition probabilities for the 3s–4p transitions of Ne I". Journal de Physique. 38 (9): 1065–1069. doi:10.1051/jphys:019770038090106500. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
  13. ^ a b Petitpas, G.; Rollier, J.-D.; Darmon, A.; Gonzalez-Aguilar, J.; Metkemeijer, R.; Fulcheri, L. (2007). "A comparative study of non-thermal plasma assisted reforming technologies". International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 32 (14): 2848–2867. Bibcode:2007IJHE...32.2848P. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2007.03.026. ISSN 0360-3199. Retrieved 2025-04-09. The Groupe de Recherches sur l'Energétique des Milieux Ionisés (GREMI), composed of Chapelle, Cormier and coworkers, has been studying plasma assisted reforming for many years and has played an important role in its development, working together with Czernichowski and Fridman et al. on the first investigations on gliding arc development. (...) ECP (Sarl) GlidArc Technologies (La Ferté-Saint-Aubin, France). This firm, founded in 1997, has been developing gliding arc ("glidarc") prototypes and pilot model systems for several years. Its founder, Czernichowski, is considered to be the inventor of the gliding arc principle. He worked at GREMI (see previous section) before creating his own company.
  14. ^ "Le laboratoire GREMI". Université d'Orléans (in French). Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  15. ^ Bykov, E.; Paulauskas, R.; Striūgas, N. (2022). Plasma applied burners for combusting low calorific value gases (PDF). CYSENI 2022: 18th International Conference of Young Scientists on Energy and Natural Sciences Issues. Kaunas: Lithuanian Energy Institute. p. 305. ISSN 2783-6339. Retrieved 2025-04-09. This type of reactor was designed and first produced by ... ECP (Sarl) GlidArc Technologies in France.
  16. ^ "CZERNICHOWSKI ALBIN (Author)". Web of Science. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
  17. ^ "Albin Czernichowski – profile". Academia.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
  18. ^ "Wybrany autor: Czernichowski Albin [nr ewid. PWr: 005834, W03]" [Selected author: Czernichowski Albin [WUST record no. 005834, W03]]. Dorobek naukowy Politechniki Wrocławskiej (DONA) (in Polish). Wrocław University of Science and Technology. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
  19. ^ "Albin Czernichowski – Scopus Author Profile". Scopus. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  20. ^ "Patent search: "Czernichowski" AND "Albin"". Espacenet (EPO). Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  21. ^ FR application 2639172, Hervé Lesueur; Albin Czernichowski; Joseph Chapelle, "Device for generating low-temperature plasmas by formation of sliding electric discharges", published 1990-05-18, assigned to Électricité de France 
  22. ^ US patent 5711859, André Caramel; Albin Czernichowski; André Gorius, "Process for plasma-chemical conversion of N2O into NOx", issued 1998-01-27, assigned to Rhone-Poulenc Chimie SA 
  23. ^ FR patent 2593493, Pierre Jorgensen; Joseph Chapelle; Albin Czernichowski, "Process for the production of reactive gases enriched in hydrogen and in carbon monoxide in an electrical post-arc", issued 1988-04-15, assigned to BP PLC 
  24. ^ FR application 2709980, Philippe Labbe; François Laval; Hervé Lesueur; Albin Czernichowski, "Device for the removal of soot present in combustion effluents by sliding electrical discharges", published 1995-03-24, assigned to Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (CEA) 
  25. ^ US patent 7459594, Albin Czernichowski; Krystyna Wesołowska; Jan Czernichowski, "Plasma-catalytic conversion of carbonaceous matters", issued 2008-12-02, assigned to Ceramatec, Inc. 
  26. ^ US application 20100041776, Albin Czernichowski; Jan Czernichowski; Caroline Czernichowski, "Glycerol conversion into clean and renewable liquid fuel", published 2010-02-18, assigned to Florida Syngas, LLC 
  27. ^ PL application 442295, Albin Czernichowski; Marek Tyksiński; Rafał Tyksiński; Janusz Przeorek, "Horizontal gasifier and method of thermochemical conversion of flammable carbon-bearing material in a countercurrent process", published 2024-03-18 
  28. ^ PL application 441676, Albin Czernichowski; Marek Tyksiński; Rafał Tyksiński; Janusz Przeorek, "Oxidation–reduction plasma reactor and method for processing organic and inorganic waste into clean synthesis gas", published 2024-01-15 
  29. ^ Czernichowski, A. (1994). "Gliding arc: Applications to engineering and environment control". Pure and Applied Chemistry. 66 (6): 1301–1310. doi:10.1351/pac199466061301. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
  30. ^ "Process in big-screen plasma TVs can produce ultra-clean fuel". EurekAlert!. American Chemical Society. 2010-03-22. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  31. ^ Czernichowski, Albin; Czernichowski, Piotr (2010). "GlidArc-assisted cleaning of flue gas from destruction of conventional or chemical weapons" (PDF). Environment Protection Engineering. 36 (4): 37–45. ISSN 0324-8828. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
  32. ^ a b Pushkarev, A. I.; Zhu, A. M.; Li, X. S. (2009). "Methane conversion in low-temperature plasma". High Energy Chemistry. 43 (3): 156–162. doi:10.1134/S0018143909030023. Retrieved 2025-04-09. Similar results were obtained in a study of methane pyrolysis in a gliding alternating-current (50 Hz, 3 kW) arc discharge. At a gas flow rate of 2 m3/h, a pressure of 6 atm, and a temperature of 1400 K, 34% of CH4 was converted into hydrogen and acetylene. (...) Methane conversion in a controlled arc discharge was studied in [12]. (...) the main products were H2, CO, and H2O.
  33. ^ Tian, Di; Cheng, Jiushan; Pei, Xueyun; Liu, Zhongwei; Liu, Qianyu (March 2024). "Progress of organic wastewater degradation by atmospheric pressure gliding arc plasma technology: A review". AIP Advances. 14 (3): 030702. Bibcode:2024AIPA...14c0702T. doi:10.1063/5.0191470. ISSN 2158-3226. Retrieved 2025-04-09. In the 1990s, Czernichowski first proposed the concept of the gliding arc, pointing out that the gliding arc was a form of discharge that combined the characteristics of thermal equilibrium and non-equilibrium plasmas and exhibited high efficiency in the field of exhaust gas treatment. (...) Czernichowski et al. used a gliding arc to treat toluene, xylene, heptane, and other exhaust gases in the air. The results demonstrated a high efficiency in VOC abolition, with degradation rates of 74%, 80%, and 100% for these three pollutants, respectively.
  34. ^ Mazurek, Paweł (2020). "Chosen Aspects of the Electromagnetic Compatibility of Plasma Reactors with Gliding Arc Discharges". Applied Sciences. 10 (11): 3789. doi:10.3390/app10113789. One of the types of plasma reactors is a reactor with arc discharge gliding along electrodes under the technological name GlidArc. (...) Reactors of this type are used mainly in the neutralisation of toxic gases, such as SOx and NOx or in other technologies.
  35. ^ Du, Zhehua (2021). "Research Progress of Low Temperature Plasma Technology to Treat Sulfur-containing Malodorous Gas". E3S Web of Conferences. 248: 01052. Bibcode:2021E3SWC.24801052Z. doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202124801052. Retrieved 2025-04-09. Czernichowski used gliding arc discharge plasma to treat methyl mercaptan. When the voltage reached 5kV and flow rate was 70m³/h, methyl mercaptan removal efficiency was close to 100%.
  36. ^ Heintze, Moritz (2012). "Hydrogen and Syngas Production from Hydrocarbons". In Jiang, Xingui (ed.). Plasma Chemistry and Catalysis in Gases and Liquids. John Wiley & Sons. p. 369. doi:10.1002/9783527649525.ch9. ISBN 9783527649525. Retrieved 2025-04-09. In a GA reformer ... energetic reformer efficiency of 64% ... at 50 W plasma power.
  37. ^ Xu, Guofeng; Ding, Xinwei (2012). "Optimization geometries of a vortex gliding-arc reactor for partial oxidation of methane". Energy. 47 (1): 333–339. Bibcode:2012Ene....47..333G. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2012.09.032. Retrieved 2025-04-09. ...further contributions ... by A. Czernichowski...
  38. ^ Pikoń, K.; Czekalska, Z.; Stelmach, S.; Ścierski, W. (2010). "Zastosowanie metod plazmowych do oczyszczania gazu procesowego ze zgazowania biomasy" [Application of plasma methods for cleaning process gas from biomass gasification]. Archiwum Gospodarki Odpadami i Ochrony Środowiska (in Polish). 12 (4): 61–72. ISSN 1733-4381. Retrieved 2025-04-09. Przeprowadzone badania potwierdzają możliwość zmniejszenia zawartości substancji smolistych i węglowodorowych w gazie reaktorowym przez zastosowanie reaktora plazmowego wspomaganego przez złoże katalizatora. [The conducted studies confirm the possibility of reducing the tar and hydrocarbon content in the reactor gas by using a plasma reactor supported by a catalyst bed.]
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