An experimental and computational study of methyl ester decomposition pathways using shock tubes

The high-temperature decomposition of three simple methyl esters: methyl acetate, methyl propionate and methyl butanoate, were studied behind reflected shock waves using tunable diode laser absorption of CO₂ near 2.7 μm. CO₂ yield measurements were made over the range of temperatures 1260-1653 K, pressures of 1.4-1.7 atm and reactant concentrations of 2-3%, with the balance Ar. The CO₂ absorption strengths near 2.7 μm are approximately 50 to 1000 times stronger than the bands near 2.0 and 1.55 μm, respectively, and offer opportunities for significantly more sensitive and accurate combustion measurements than previous absorption work using CO₂ bands at shorter wavelength. The experiments provide the first laser-based time-history measurements of the CO₂ yields during pyrolysis of these bio-diesel surrogate fuels in a shock tube. Model predictions for CO₂ yields during methyl butanoate pyrolysis at high temperatures, using the detailed reaction mechanisms of [E. M. Fisher, W. J. Pitz, H. J. Curran, C. K. Westbrook, Proc. Combust. Inst. 28 (2000) 1579-1586.] and others, are significantly lower than those measured in this study. However, an improved methyl butanoate model which extends the recent theoretical work of [L.K. Huynh, A. Violi, J. Org. Chem. 73 (2008) 94-101.] provides substantially improved predictions of CO₂ yields during methyl butanoate pyrolysis. As earlier mechanisms predicted low yields of CO₂ from methyl butanoate decomposition, these new findings imply that existing bio-diesel fuel models, which rely on the rapid formation of two oxygenate radicals from methyl esters (rather than a single non-reactive CO₂ molecule) to account for the tendency for soot reduction, may have to be revisited.     

Structure and reaction pathways of methyl lactate on Pd(1 1 1)

The adsorption and reaction of methyl lactate (CH₃CH(OH)COOCH₃) is studied in ultrahigh vacuum on a Pd(1 1 1) surface using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and reflection–absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS). Methyl lactate reacts at relatively low temperatures (220 K) by O–H bond scission. This intermediate can either react with hydrogen to reform methyl lactate at 280–300 K or undergo β-hydride elimination to form flat-lying methyl pyruvate. This decomposes to form acetyl and methoxy carbonyl species as found previously following methyl pyruvate adsorption on Pd(1 1 1). These species predominantly react to form carbon monoxide, methane and hydrogen.     

An investigation of the surface chemistry of methyl pyruvate on Cu(1 1 1)

The surface chemistry of an α-ketoester, methyl pyruvate, has been studied on a model Cu(1 1 1) single crystal surface. Monolayers of methyl pyruvate at 180 K consist predominately (ca. 66%) of a chemisorbed methyl pyruvate moiety, with its keto-carbonyl bonded to the surface in a η² configuration, this moiety desorbs intact at 365 K. The rest of the monolayer contains weakly adsorbed methyl pyruvate, which desorbs at 234 K, which interacts with the surface through the lone pair electrons of the oxygen atoms of the CO groups, adopting a η¹ configuration. Previous studies of simple ketones on model noble metal surfaces have only observed weakly bonded η¹ configurations. The observation of a strongly chemisorbed moiety in the present study is attributed to the activation of the keto-carbonyl by the electron withdrawing ester group. This behaviour is consistent with the homogeneous inorganic chemistry of ketones. Given both the formation of a η² bonded methyl pyruvate moiety on Cu(1 1 1) and the known activity of Cu as a selective hydrogenation catalyst, it is suggested that it maybe worthwhile considering the possibility of testing the effectiveness of chirally modified supported Cu as an enantioselective catalyst.     

Electron spin relaxation of radicals in γ-irradiated malonic acid and methyl malonic acid

Radicals generated by γ-irradiation of malonic acid and methyl malonic acid were studied as a function of temperature by inversion recovery, echo-detected saturation recovery and electron-electron double resonance (ELDOR) at X-band, and by continuous-wave saturation recovery at X-band and S-band. ELDOR reductions for malonic acid radical in polycrystalline and single-crystal samples indicate that nuclear spin relaxation is faster than both electron spin relaxation and cross relaxation between 93 and 233 K. Deuteration of the carboxylate protons caused the maximum ELDOR reduction to shift from about 110 to 150 K, consistent with the assignment of the rapid nuclear spin relaxation to hydrogen-bonded proton dynamics. ELDOR enhancements for both radicals formed in methyl malonic acid indicate that cross relaxation is faster than both electron spin relaxation and nuclear spin relaxation between 77 and 220 K. Enhanced cross relaxation and electron spin relaxation are attributed to the rotation of methyl groups at a rate comparable to the electron Larmor frequency. The temperature dependence of the enhancement of 1/T _1e was analyzed to determine the activation energies for methyl rotation. The same radical is formed in irradiated methyl malonic acid and L-alanine, but the barrier to rotation of the α-methyl is 500 K in the methyl malonic acid host and 1500 K in the L-alanine host, which indicates a large impact of the lattice on the barrier to rotation.     

Study on the interaction between methyl blue and human serum albumin by fluorescence spectrometry

The interaction of methyl blue (MB) with human serum albumin (HSA) was studied by fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy. The intrinsic fluorescence of HSA was quenched by MB, which was rationalized in terms of the static quenching mechanism. The number of binding sites and the apparent binding constants at different temperatures were obtained from the Stern-Volmer analysis of the fluorescence quenching data. The thermodynamic parameters determined by the van’t Hoff analysis of the binding constants (ΔH°=39.8 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔS°=239 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹) clearly indicate that binding is absolutely entropy-driven and enthalpically disfavored The efficiency of energy transfer and the distance between the donor (HSA) and the acceptor (MB) were calculated as 60% and 2.06 nm from the Förster theory of non-radiation energy transfer.     

Infrared and microwave spectra, molecular conformation and electric dipole moment of methyl thiolformate

The microwave spectrum (41-10 GHz) and the infrared spectrum (4000-50 cm⁻¹) of methyl thiolformate have been obtained and analyzed. The spectra are consistent with a single molecular conformation having a planar array of heavy atoms and with the alkyl group cis to the carbonyl group. The measured rotational constants are: A, 11042.22 MHz; B, 5118.27 MHz; C, 3562.03 MHz (κ = −0.5839). No internal rotation doublets were observed in the microwave spectrum for the ground vibrational state, which implies that the barrier hindering internal rotation of the methyl group is either much larger or much smaller than the corresponding value for methyl formate. If the former is true then a lower limit of 10.5 kJ mol⁻¹ may be placed on the barrier height.The dipole moment of methyl thiolformate was measured using the Stark effect to be 1.58 ± 0.05 Debyes (μ_A = 1.52 D; μ_B = 0.43 D) for the vapor, and for dilute solutions in benzene at 295 K the value of 1.6 ± 0.1 D was found from capacitance measurements.SCF computations using minimal basis sets of STO/3G atomic orbitals and extended basis sets of STO/4.31G atomic orbitals have been carried out for methyl thiolformate and methyl formate. Energy differences between rotational isomers and estimates of barrier heights are given together with the calculated dipole moments.     

Theoretical line widths in N2O-N2O and N2O-air collisions

Rotational half-widths have been computed at 220°K, 250°K, 280°K, and 300°K for air-broadened absorption lines of N₂O using the Anderson-Tsao-Curnutte theory. The new results are compared with previously available estimates at 300°K. Self-broadened line widths have also been computed at 300°K; good agreement has been obtained with Goody's data.     

High-temperature UV absorption of methyl radicals behind shock waves

The absorption of ultraviolet narrow-line laser radiation by methyl radicals (CH₃) in the electronic system has been studied at high temperatures behind shock waves. Methyl radicals at high temperatures were generated by the shock heating of methyl precursors: azomethane, methyl iodide, and ethane. The spectral shape and intensity of the broadband absorption feature from 211.5 to 220 nm at high temperature (1565 K) has been measured. The absorption coefficient of CH₃ at 216.62 nm, the wavelength of peak absorption at high temperatures in the P+Q band, has been determined from 1200 to 2500 K. Additionally, the absorption coefficients of several interfering UV-absorbing combustion species (, and C₃H₆) have been determined at 216.62 nm.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of electronic energy states of methyl benzoate derivatives

Spectroscopic steady state studies of four monosubstituted derivatives of methyl benzoate dissolved in methylcyclohexane (McH), tetrahydrofuran (THF), ethanol (EtOH) and isopentane-diethyl ether mixture (IP-DE) have been performed at 293 and 77 K. The determined electronic energy values and oscillator strengths are compared with those obtained from quantum chemical calculations. Good agreement between experimental and theoretical energy values is noted. The average value is smaller than 5 percent. A reasonable agreement is noted between intensities of separated bands and oscillator strength of corresponding transitions. The relative ratio of fluorescence to phosphorescence intensity I_fl/I_ph of ortho-substituted compounds dissolved in non-polar, polar and protic solvents is higher than that of the para-substituted derivatives of methyl benzoate. The spectroscopic studies show that methyl ortho-hydroxy benzoate in the excited state S₁ forms H-bonded dimers in the solvents used. At 77 K the dimer fluorescence dominates the phosphorescence emission. The long wavelength absorption band (C) of amino-substituted methyl benzoates consists of two transitions in agreement with our theoretical calculations and a suggestion made by Shabestary and El-Bayoumi [N. Shabestary, M.A. El-Bayoumi, Chem. Phys. Lett. 106 (1984) 107].     

Ignition behavior of pure and blended methyl octanoate,n-nonane,and methylcyclohexane

Excited-state species profiles and ignition delay times were obtained under dilute conditions (99% Ar) using a heated shock tube for methyl octanoate (C₉H₁₈O₂), n-nonane (n-C₉H₂₀), and methylcyclohexane (MCH) over a broad range of temperature and equivalence ratio (? = 0.5, 1.0, 2.0) at pressures near 1 and 10 atm. Measurements were then extended to include two ternary blends of the fuels using 5% and 20% (vol.) of the methyl ester under stoichiometric conditions. Using three independently validated chemical kinetics mechanisms, a model was compiled to assess the influence of methyl ester concentration on ignition delay times of the ternary blends. Under near-atmospheric pressure, ignition delay times were of the following order for the pure fuels: methyl octanoate < n-nonane < methylcyclohexane. Experimental results indicate that the ignition behavior of the higher-order methyl ester approaches that of the higher-order linear alkane with increased pressure regardless of equivalence ratio. Methyl octanoate also displayed significantly lower pressure dependence relative to the linear alkane and the cycloalkane species. Both of these results are supported by model calculations. Blending of methyl octanoate with n-nonane and methylcyclohexane impacted ignition delay time results more strongly at 1.5 atm, yet had only a small effect near 10 atm for temperatures above 1400 K. The study provides the first shock-tube data for a ternary blend of a linear alkane, a cycloalkane, and a methyl ester. Ignition delay time measurements for the C₉:0 methyl ester were also measured for the first time.     

Ignition delay times of methyl oleate and methyl linoleate behind reflected shock waves

Ignition delay times for methyl oleate (C₁₉H₃₆O₂, CAS: 112-62-9) and methyl linoleate (C₁₉H₃₄O₂, CAS: 112-63-0) were measured for the first time behind reflected shock waves, using an aerosol shock tube. The aerosol shock tube enabled study of these very-low-vapor-pressure fuels by introducing a spatially-uniform fuel aerosol/4% oxygen/argon mixture into the shock tube and employing the incident shock wave to produce complete fuel evaporation, diffusion, and mixing. Reflected shock conditions covered temperatures from 1100 to 1400 K, pressures of 3.5 and 7.0 atm, and equivalence ratios from 0.6 to 2.4. Ignition delay times for both fuels were found to be similar over a wide range of conditions. The most notable trend in the observed ignition delay times was that the pressure and equivalence ratio scaling were a strong function of temperature, and exhibited cross-over temperatures at which there was no sensitivity to either parameter. Data were also compared to the biodiesel kinetic mechanism of Westbrook et al. (2011) [10], which underpredicts ignition delay times by about 50%. Differences between experimental and computed ignition delay times were strongly related to existing errors and uncertainties in the thermochemistry of the large methyl ester species, and when these were corrected, the kinetic simulations agreed significantly better with the experimental measurements.     

Proton conducting composite membranes based on poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole) and nitrilotri (methyl triphosphonic acid)

Polymer electrolyte composite membranes based on poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole) (PVTRI) and nitrilotri(methyl triphosphonic acid) (TPA) were investigated. PVTRI was produced by free radical polymerization of 1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole. The polymer PVTRI was doped with TPA at various molar ratios x=0.125, x=0.25, and x=0.5. The proton transfer from TPA to the triazole rings was proved with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Thermogravimetry (TG) analysis showed that the samples are thermally stable up to approximately 250 °C. DSC results illustrated the homogeneity of the materials as well as the softening effect of the dopant. Cyclic voltammetry results illustrated that the electrochemical stability domain of the dopant extends over 1.5 V. The maximum proton conductivity has been measured for PVTRITPA-0.25 as 8.5×10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 150 °C.     

The surface chemistry of methyl and methylene radicals adsorbed on Cu(111)

The interactions of methyl and methylene radicals on Cu(111) were investigated with XPS, AES and HREELS under various exposure conditions. The CH₂ and CH₃ radicals are generated through a hot nozzle source with ketene and azomethane gases. It is shown that with substrate at 300 K, the impinging CH₃ radicals are trapped mainly as CH₃(ads), while a part of the adsorbate decomposes to form CH₂(ads) and H(ads). H atoms are found to desorb at about 380 K, while the chemisorbed hydrocarbon adspecies desorb at about 420 K. In drastic contrast, exposing the clean Cu surface to methylene radicals results not only in the trapping of CH₂(ads), but also in the formation of complex aromatic species. The adlayer is sensitive to annealing at elevated temperatures. Desorption and partial conversion to methylidyne take place at around 420 K. The CH(ads) species can survive up to 700 K and then decomposes to form residual carbon above 800 K. In both radical-Cu(111) systems, surface coverage appears to saturate near one monolayer. The relative concentrations of different surface species in the adlayer, however, depend on the amount of radical exposure. The reaction properties of the two systems are compared and discussed.     

TPD, HREELS and UPS study of the adsorption and reaction of methyl nitrite (CH3ONO) on Pt(111)

The adsorption and reaction of methyl nitrite (CH₃ONO, CD₃ONO) on Pt(111) was studied using HREELS, UPS, TPD, AES, and LEED. Adsorption of methyl nitrite on Pt(111) at 105 K forms a chemisorbed monolayer with a coverage of 0.25 ML, a physisorbed second layer with the same coverage that desorbs at 134 K, and a condensed multilayer that desorbs at 117 K. The Pt(111) surface is very reactive towards chemisorbed methyl nitrite; adsorption in the monolayer is completely irreversible. CH₃ONO dissociates to form NO and an intermediate which subsequently decomposes to yield CO and H₂ at low coverages and methanol for CH₃ONO coverages above one-half monolayer. We propose that a methoxy intermediate is formed. At least some C–O bond breaking occurs during decomposition to leave carbon on the surface after TPD. UPS and HREELS show that some methyl nitrite decomposition occurs below 110 K and all of the methyl nitrite in the monolayer is decomposed by 165 K. Intermediates from methyl nitrite decomposition are also relatively unstable on the Pt(111) surface since coadsorbed NO, CO and H are formed below 225 K.     

Shock-tube and modeling study of ethyl methyl ether pyrolysis and oxidation

Pyrolysis and oxidation of ethyl methyl ether (EME) were studied behind reflected shock waves in the temperature range 900-1750 K at total pressures between 0.9 and 3.1 atm. The study was carried out using following methods, (1) time-resolved IR-laser absorption at 3.39 μm for EME decay and CH-compound formation rates, (2) time-resolved UV absorption at 216 nm for mainly CH₃ radical formation rate, (3) time-resolved UV absorption at 306.7 nm for OH radical formation rate, (4) time-resolved IR emission at 4.24 μm for CO₂ formation rate and (5) a single-pulse technique for product yields. The pyrolysis and oxidation of EME were modeled using a reaction mechanism including the sub-mechanisms for methane, acetylene, ethylene, ethane, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and ketene oxidation. The reaction mechanism used in this study could reproduce almost all of experimental results. The sub-mechanisms of methane, ethylene, ethane, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde were found to play an important role in EME oxidation.     

Microwave structural studies of organoselenium compounds 1. Microwave spectra, molecular structure, and methyl barrier to internal rotation of dimethyl diselenide

The rotational spectra of nine isotopomers of dimethyl diselenide, CH₃SeSeCH₃, have been measured with a molecular-beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. The spectra were complex due to the presence of many isotopomers in natural abundance and the splitting caused by the interactions with two methyl internal rotors. The spectra were assigned and fit to experimental precision to an effective rotational Hamiltonian for molecules with two periodic internal motions. The spectra of the symmetric isotopomers are consistent with a C₂ equilibrium structure. The rotational constants were used to determine the r_s structure of the C-Se-Se-C frame with the results r(SeSe)=2.306(3) Å, r(SeC)=1.954(6) Å, ?(CSeSe)=99.8(2)°, ?(CSeSeC)=85.2(1)°. A barrier to internal rotation of the methyl groups of 395 ± 2 cm⁻¹ was derived from the internal rotation splittings.     

Influence of zirconium doping on the activities of zirconium and iodine co-doped titanium dioxide in the decolorization of methyl orange under visible light irradiation

Zirconium and iodine co-doped titanium dioxide (Zr-I-TiO₂) was prepared by the hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate, premixed with zirconium nitrate in an iodic acid aqueous solution, followed by calcination in air. The structure and properties of the resultant catalyst powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the catalyst was evaluated by monitoring the photocatalytic decolorization of methyl orange under visible light irradiation. The results showed that the activities of Zr-I-TiO₂ catalysts were higher than that of TiO₂ doped with iodine alone (I-TiO₂), and the optimal doping concentration in the Zr-I-TiO₂ calcined at 400 °C was determined to be about 0.05 (molar ratio of Zr:Ti). In addition, the photocatalytic activity of Zr-I-TiO₂ calcined at 400 °C was found to be significantly higher than that calcined at 500 or 600 °C. Based on the physico-chemical characterization, we concluded that the role of zirconium on the I-TiO₂ surface is to increase the number of reactive sites by generating a small crystal size and large surface area. The inhibition of electron-hole pair recombination, by trapping photo-generated electrons with Zr⁴⁺, did not contribute markedly to the improved photocatalytic activity of Zr-I-TiO₂.     

Ignition delay of fatty acid methyl ester fuel droplets: Microgravity experiments and detailed numerical modeling

Recent optical engine studies have linked increases in NO_x emissions from fatty acid methyl ester combustion to differences in the premixed autoignition zone of the diesel fuel jet. In this study, ignition of single, isolated liquid droplets in quiescent, high temperature air was considered as a means of gaining insight into the transient, partially premixed ignition conditions that exist in the autoignition zone of a fatty acid methyl ester fuel jet. Normal gravity and microgravity (10⁻⁴ m/s²) droplet ignition delay experiments were conducted by use of a variety of neat methyl esters and commercial soy methyl ester. Droplet ignition experiments were chosen because spherically symmetric droplet combustion represents the simplest two-phase, time-dependent chemically reacting flow system permitting a numerical solution with complex physical submodels. To create spherically symmetric conditions for direct comparison with a detailed numerical model, experiments were conducted in microgravity by use of a 1.1 s drop tower. In the experiments, droplets were grown and deployed onto 14 μm silicon carbide fibers and injected into a tube furnace containing atmospheric pressure air at temperatures up to 1300 K. The ignition event was characterized by measurement of UV emission from hydroxyl radical (OH*) chemiluminescence. The experimental results were compared against predictions from a time-dependent, spherically symmetric droplet combustion simulation with detailed gas phase chemical kinetics, spectrally resolved radiative heat transfer and multi-component transport. By use of a skeletal chemical kinetic mechanism (125 species, 713 reactions), the computed ignition delay period for methyl decanoate (C₁₁H₂₂O₂) showed excellent agreement with experimental results at furnace temperatures greater than 1200 K.     

Dielectric relaxation studies of methyl cellulose with phenol derivatives in non-polar solvents using time domain reflectometry

Dielectric relaxation measurements of methyl cellulose with substituted phenols p-cresol, m-cresol and o-cresol mixture in different non-polar solvents CCl₄, benzene and 1,4-dioxan for different concentrations over the frequency range of 10 MHz–20 GHz at 303 K have been carried out using Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR). Dielectric parameters such as static permittivity (ε₀) and relaxation time (τ) were determined and discussed to yield information on the molecular structure and dynamics of the mixture. The dielectric constant and relaxation time were found to be high for methyl cellulose with p-cresol in CCl₄ compared with the other mixtures.