Rotating gliding arc discharge was used to convert waste rapeseed oil into high value chemical products. Electrical parameters and arc dynamics under different operating conditions were investigated to obtain a visualized understanding of oil-electrochemical conversion in plasma. Gas selectivity and oil conversion exhibited that higher applied voltage promoted syngas production with better energy efficiency. Increasing the waste oil input and N-2 flow rate facilitated the generation of total gas phase products, while decreasing the yields of syngas. Liquid products indicated similar composition distribution of alkyl chain structures, while alkanes, cycloalkanes, olefins, and aromatic hydrocarbons were favored under the effects of plasma. The texture and morphology of solid carbon on electrodes were dependent on the applied electrical power and indicated the existence of graphitic structures. Copyright (C) 2015, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.