KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF THE VAPOR-PHASE PYROLYSIS OF 1,3-DIOXOLANE IN STEAM

The kinetics and mechanism of 1,3-dioxolane pyrolysis were determined in atmospheric pressure steam between 963 K and 1093 K with reactant concentrations of 6. 28 multiplied by (times) 10** minus **7 to 1. 36 multiplied by (times) 10** minus **4 mol/l using a flow reactor. The reaction was found to be first order. The temperature dependence of the rate constant is given by ln k equals 27. 6 plus or minus 3. 2 minus (51,300 plus or minus 6,500)/RT which agrees well with previous literature data. Some mechanistic aspects of levoglucosan pyrolysis are considered in light of these dioxolane results and recently published results on the pyrolysis of glycerol.