Plasma Pyrolysis: Steam vs Argon/Neon?

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Reading about plasma pyrolysis suggests that a plasma arc ionises an inert gas, the explanation continues to suggest that steam is commonly used as the gas. This sounds nuts to me as H20 isn't formed of noble gases and therefore can't be inert. It seems to me that as steam ionises would produce HO and H ions which would react with any matter around it eg in waste gas streams formed from waste combustion.

So to my questions 1 - am I right (above) and 2 - would steam be a better option to pyrolyse wate matter than say argon or neon?

Thanks

 

[jbsteele]

1. You are correct that steam is not an inert gas, as it is composed of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The reason that steam is commonly used in plasma pyrolysis is that it is a cheaper and more readily available option than other inert gases, such as argon or neon.2. For the purpose of pyrolysis, steam can be an effective option. It can help break down waste matter and create more reactive species, which can then be broken down further for various applications. However, it should be noted that other inert gases may have advantages in certain situations, such as when higher temperatures are desired or when certain types of reaction products are desired.