THE INFLUENCE OF ALKALINE-EARTH ADDITIVES ON SOOT AND HYDROXYL RADICALS IN DIFFUSION FLAMES

There have been repeated speculations in the published literature concerning a possible chemical/OH explanation of alkaline-earth metal behavior in relation to soot in both diffusion and premixed flames. The soot reduction is presumed to occur via a metal-induced catalytic increase in OH, which then in turn increases the rate of soot (carbon) oxidative burn out given by, C(solid) plus OH yields CO plus (1/2)H//2 left bracket 1 right bracket . This communication describes the first quantitative test of this mechanism. The results which are presented do not support it as a viable explanation of soot suppression by alkaline-earth metals.