The mechanism of hexane decomposition under gliding arc gas discharge conditions is studied from both qualitative and quantitative analyses of its products for various hexane initial concentrations and different background atmospheres : nitrogen, argon, air (O-2 21% N-2 79% vol.) and N-2-O-2 mixtures. The decomposition rate, which decreases with increasing hexane initial concentration, can reach 94% when the carrier gas is air. Due to the electron energy consumed by the dissociation of nitrogen, the decomposition rate of hexane in nitrogen is lower than in argon. The radical channel plays a predominant role in the hexane decomposition process. With increasing oxygen concentration in the carrier gas, the hexane decomposition rate increases and promotes the conversion of CO- CO2, but it also leads to the formation of NO2.