GAS-PHASE OXIDATION OF NORMAL-BUTANE BY MEANS OF OZONIZED-OXYGEN

The gas-phase ozone activated oxidation of w-butane is investigated in the temperature range 130–250 °C by means of a continuous stirred tank reactor. The reacting mixture (n-butane 66 percent, oxygen 33 percent, ozone 1 percent by volume) is fed to the reactor at mean residence times of 5 and 10 sec. The reaction progress is followed under steady state conditions by measuring the heat release rates and by performing the condensed products analysis at varying reaction temperatures. Results show the occurrence of a negative temperature coefficient of the reaction rate which can be interpreted on the basis of the increased rate of the ozone thermal decomposition in the reacting system at increasing reaction temperature. In this respect the /z-butane behaviour appears to be very different from that previously observed in the case of /-butane under similar experimental conditions. The different behaviours are explained on the basis of the different structural characteristics of the two hydrocarbons. Analytical results allow one to elucidate the main reaction paths through which the oxidation process develops. © 1979 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC