Toluene and benzyl decomposition mechanisms: elementary reactions and kinetic simulations

The high temperature decomposition kinetics of toluene and benzyl were investigated by combining a kinetic analysis with the ab initio/master equation study of new reaction channels. It was found that similarly to toluene, which decomposes to benzyl and phenyl losing atomic hydrogen and methyl, also benzyl decomposition proceeds through two channels with similar products. The first leads to the formation of fulvenallene and hydrogen and has already been investigated in detail in recent publications. In this work it is proposed that benzyl can decompose also through a second decomposition channel to form benzyne and methyl. The channel specific kinetic constants of benzyl decomposition were determined by integrating the RRKM/master equation over the C(7)H(7) potential energy surface. The energies of wells and saddle points were determined at the CCSD(T) level on B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) structures. A kinetic mechanism was then formulated, which comprises the benzyl and toluene decomposition reactions together with a recently proposed fulvenallene decomposition mechanism, the decomposition kinetics of the fulvenallenyl radical, and some reactions describing the secondary chemistry originated by the decomposition products. The kinetic mechanism so obtained was used to simulate the production of H atoms measured in a wide pressure and temperature range using different experimental setups. The calculated and experimental data are in good agreement. Kinetic constants of the new reaction channels here examined are reported as a function of temperature at different pressures. The mechanism here proposed is not compatible with the assumption often used in literature kinetic mechanisms that benzyl decomposition can be effectively described through a lumped reaction whose products are the cyclopentadienyl radical and acetylene.     

Kinetic mechanism of the thermal decomposition of tobacco

Equations have been derived to describe the chemical kinetic factors that affect the rate of formation of products when a mixture of solid components (tobacco) decomposes on heating. Using these equations, a computer model of tobacco pyrolysis has been constructed which can calculate the gas formation rate/temperature profile from a given set of reaction parameters. By comparing the predictions of the model with experimental results at heating rates between 0.8 and 25 deg C s^?1, a generalised kinetic mechanism for the thermal decomposition of tobacco has been developed. For carbon monoxide and other low molecular weight gases, the mechanism is an independent formation of each gas from one solid tobacco component in each temperature region. Pyrolysis of some individual tobacco components in other studies suggests that each gas is actually produced from many components in each temperature region. This more complex mechanism is kinetically equivalent to the deduced mechanism of independent formation from one component.The region in which a given decomposition reaction takes place moves to higher temperatures as the heating rate increases. The amounts of gases formed over any temperature region from 200 to 900°C can be calculated for a given heating rate using the mechanism and the kinetic constants. The present results imply that 75–90% of the carbon monoxide produced by tobacco decomposition at temperatures up to 900°C during a puff on a cigarette corresponds to that formed in the “low temperature region” (200–450°C) defined for pyrolysis experiments at the lower heating rates of 1–10 deg C s^?1.     

The thermal decomposition of ammonium metavanadate

On heating, ammonium metavanadate (AMV) decomposes in several atmospheredependent stages. An important decomposition intermediate, ammonium hexavanadate (AHV), may also be prepared by wet-chemical methods and the kinetic parameters for the thermal decomposition of AMV and of the AHV preparation have been obtained. The kinetic study has been supplemented by surface-area measurements and by electron microscopic examination of the surfaces of reactant, intermediate and product crystallites. On the basis of the type of decomposition curve, the measured activation energies, and the effects of oxygen and water vapour on the decomposition rate, it has been concluded that in vacuum and in inert atmospheres the evolution of ammonia is the rate-determining step, while in oxidizing atmospheres evolution of water is rate determining. Comparison of the kinetic parameters with thermodynamic data for the decomposi. tion has led to suggestions as to the nature of the activated complexes involved.     

Kinetic studies on the thermal decomposition of phosphate-doped sodium oxalate

The thermal decomposition kinetics of sodium oxalate (Na₂C₂O₄) has been studied as a function of concentration of dopant, phosphate, at five different temperatures in the range 783–803 K under isothermal conditions by thermogravimetry (TG). The TG data were subjected to both model-fitting and model-free kinetic methods of analysis. The model-fitting analysis of the TG data of all the samples shows that no single kinetic model describes the whole α versus t curve with a single rate constant throughout the decomposition reaction. Separate kinetic analysis shows that Prout–Tompkins model best describes the acceleratory stage of the decomposition, while the decay region is best fitted with the contracting cylinder model. Activation energy values were evaluated by both model-fitting and model-free kinetic methods. The observed results favour a diffusion-controlled mechanism for the thermal decomposition of sodium oxalate.     

The study of decomposition reactions through the exchange of thermal energy

In many decomposition reactions, the reaction velocity can be described as a product of two functions: a temperature dependent part K(T) and the kinetic function f(1 – α), where T designates the temperature and α the fraction of reactant that has decomposed. The physical interpretation of these functions is discussed for both solid and homogeneous systems. A method is described by which f(1 – α) and K(T) can be determined from kinetic data. The mechanism of decomposition can subsequently be identified which should be consistent with the derived kinetic parameters. The method has been applied to analyze the kinetics of the thermal decomposition of nitromethane. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Sulfonation of arylamines: Part 12. Kinetics of thermal decomposition of dimethylanilinium sulfates

Three dimethylanilinium sulfates (DMAS) have been prepared and characterised by elemental and spectral studies. Thermal decomposition of these salts has been studied by TG and simultaneous TG-DTG technique and kinetic parameters were evaluated from both dynamic and isothermal TG data using mechanism based kinetic equations. The thermal decomposition pathways have also been suggested and it has been found that DMAS salts give dimethyl aminobenzenesulfonic acids (DMABSA) via solid state reaction. The primary step in the thermal decomposition involves proton transfer followed by sulfonation.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Kinetic analysis of thermal decomposition reactions

The effect of⁶⁰C0-gamma radiation on the kinetic parameters of the thermal decomposition of potassium bromate crystals has been investigated. Radiation did not modify the mechanism of thermal decomposition reaction, but resulted in a decrease in activation energy and frequency factor with a rate which is large at small doses and decreases at higher doses. The results showed that the increase in the concentration of decomposition nuclei tends to be more important than the increase in the porous character of the solid.     

Thermal decomposition of barium(II) tetraphenylborate

Barium(II) tetraphenylborate, Ba(Bph₄))₂·4H₂O was prepared, and its decomposition mechanism was studied by means of TG and DTA. The products of thermal decomposition were examined by means of gas chromatography and chemical methods. A kinetic analysis of the first stage of thermal decomposition was made on the basis of TG and DTG curves and kinetic parameters were obtained from an analysis of the TG and DTG curves using integral and differential methods. The most probable kinetic function was suggested by comparison of kinetic parameters. A mathematical expression was derived for the kinetic compensation effect.     

A dynamic model of the decomposition of excited molecules

A conjugate kinetic equation has been considered for the investigation of the dynamics of the decomposition of excited molecules. On the basis of this, an equation has been obtained for the mean lifetime of the molecules. The probability of the transition of energy in the system of oscillators which models the molecule has been calculated in the perturbation theory from the anharmonic linkage of normal vibrations. It has been shown that the energy relationships of the rate constant for the decomposition are close to the analogous relationships in the Kassel-Rosenstock theory, but the absolute magnitudes of the rate constants may differ considerably from the values obtained in the quasi-equilibrium theory.In conclusion, the authors express their sincere gratitude to N. N. Tunitskii for his interest in the work and to A. A. Ovchinnikov for numerous discussions and observations.     

Kinetic analysis of thermal decomposition in liquid and solid state of 3-nitro and 4-nitro-benzaldehyde-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones

A kinetic study on the thermal decomposition of 3-nitro and 4-nitro-benzaldehyde-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones was carried out. The isothermal and dynamic differential scanning calorimetric curves were recorded for solids and melts, respectively. The standard isoconversional analysis of the obtained curves from both isothermal and nonisothermal analysis suggests an autocatalytic decomposition mechanism. This mechanism is also supported by the temperature dependence of the observed induction periods. Based on the results of the model-free method from nonisothermal regime, the kinetic model was derived and the kinetic parameters were obtained by means of a multivariate nonlinear regression.     

Thermal behavior and decomposition kinetics of composite solid propellants in the presence of amide burning rate suppressants

The employment of burning rate suppressants in the solid rocket propellant formulation is long known. Different research activities have been conducted to well understand the mechanism of suppression, but literature about the action of oxamide (OXA) and azodicarbonamide (ADA) on the thermal decomposition of composite propellant is still scarce. The focus of this study is on investigating the effect of burning rate suppressants on the thermal behavior and decomposition kinetics of composite solid propellants. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential thermal analysis have been used to identify the changes in the thermal and kinetic behaviors of coolant-based propellants. Two main decomposition stages were observed. It was found that OXA played an inhibition effect on both stages, whereas the ADA acts as a catalyst in the first stage and as coolant in the second one. The activation energy dependent on the conversion rate was estimated by two model-free integral methods: Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) based on the TG data obtained at different heating rates. The mechanism of action of coolants on the decomposition of solid propellants was confirmed by the kinetic investigation as well.     

A kinetic and mechanistic study of thermal decomposition of strontium titanyl oxalate

Thermal decomposition of anhydrous strontium titanyl oxalate proceeds through a series of complex reactions to form strontium metatitanate at high temperature. Among them the decomposition of oxalate is the first major thermal event. A kinetic study of oxalate decomposition in the temperature range 553-593 K has been carried out by cooled gas pressure measurement in vacuum. Results fitted the Zhuravlev equation for almost the entire α-range (0.05-0.92) indicating the occurrence of a diffusion-controlled, three-dimensional rate process. The activation energy has been calculated to be 164 ± 10 kJ mol⁻¹. Results from elemental analysis, TGA, IR and SEM studies of undecomposed and partially decomposed samples have been used to supplement kinetic observations in formulating the mechanism for oxalate decomposition.     

Thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis of the decomposition of solid recovered fuel from municipal solid waste

The thermal decomposition of a solid recovered fuel has been studied using thermogravimetry, in order to get information about the main steps in the decomposition of such material. The study comprises two different atmospheres: inert and oxidative. The kinetics of decomposition is determined at three different heating rates using the same kinetic constants and model for both atmospheres at all the heating rates simultaneously. A good correlation of the TG data is obtained using three nth-order parallel reactions.     

About compensation effect by thermal decomposition of some catalyst precursors

Summary In order to obtain catalysts, the thermal decomposition of the precursors is a compulsory step. However, kinetic analysis of the decomposition data obtained under non-isothermal conditions lead very seldom to the intimate reaction mechanism. There is also a lack of information because in non-isothermal kinetics, the compensation effect, is rather a rule and unfortunately a source of debate. In order to discriminate between these processes, and the influence of conversion, respectively temperature on the reaction rate, the NPK (non-parametric kinetic - Sempere and Nomen) method was used. This method is based on the singular value decomposition algorithm (SVD) applied on the matrix of reaction rate at corresponding conversion and temperature. This method allows a less speculative determination of the conversion functions and of the kinetic parameters.     

N-C bond cleavage in the acid-catalyzed decomposition of some dithio- and diselenocarbamates : A kinetic investigation of dithiocarbamate decomposition in benzene and methanol

The acidic decomposition of some dithiocarbamic internal salts in MeOH and in benzene has been carried out by UV spectrophotometric measurements under pseudo-first order conditions. In both solvents the reaction is a first order with respect to the substrate and the HCl concentration. A mechanism with two consecutive irreversible steps is proposed in benzene and the results are compared with the diselenocarbamates under the same conditions. In methanol a reversible first stage has been proposed. A general conclusion on the kinetic behaviour of dithio- and diselenocarbamates in solvents at different dielectric constants has been suggested.     

Ester decomposition as a two-center synchronous reaction

Experimental data on the molecular decomposition of esters with various structures into an olefin and the corresponding acid in the gas phase are analyzed in terms of the intersecting parabolas method. Enthalpies and kinetic parameters characterizing this decomposition have been calculated for 33 reactions. Ester decomposition is a concerted two-center reaction characterized by a very high classical potential barrier of thermoneutral reaction (148–206 kJ/mol). The totality of reactions examined is divided into eight classes. Activation energies and rate constants have been calculated for 38 reactions using the kinetic parameters obtained. The activation energies and rate constants of the reverse bimolecular reaction of acid addition to olefins have been calculated by the intersecting parabolas method. Factors in the activation energy of ester decomposition and formation reactions are discussed.     

Thermal decomposition reaction of acetone triperoxide in toluene solution

The thermal decomposition reaction of acetone cyclic triperoxide (3,3,6,6,9,9-hexamethyl-1,2,4,5,7,8-hexaoxacyclononane, ACTP) in the temperature range of 130.0-166.0 degrees C and an initial concentration of 0.021 M has been studied in toluene solution. The thermolysis follows first-order kinetic laws up to at least ca. 78% acetone triperoxide conversion. Under the experimental conditions, a radical-induced decomposition reaction as a competing mechanism may be dismissed, so the activation parameters correspond to the unimolecular thermal decomposition reaction of the ACTP molecule [delta H++ = 41.8 (+/- 1.6) kcal mol-1 and delta S++ = 18.5 (+/- 3.8) cal mol-1K-1]. Analysis of the reaction products are not enough to elucidate the real mechanism for the thermolysis of the acetone triperoxide in toluene solution.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the non-isothermal decomposition: I. Some divalent cross-linked metal-alginate ionotropic gels

The kinetics of thermal decomposition of Sn(II), Pb(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) alginate gels have been studied using thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) in static air. The thermal dehydration of each gel complex was found to occur in one step, whereas the decomposition of the dehydrated complexes occurred in two steps. The kinetic parameters were computed by different models and a tentative decomposition mechanism consistent with the kinetic observations is discussed.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Non-isothermal kinetic study on the decomposition of Zn acetate-based sol-gel precursor

The paper presents a non-isothermal kinetic study of the decomposition of Zn acetate-based gel precursors for ZnO thin films, based on the thermogravimetric (TG) data. The evaluation of the dependence of the activation energy (E) on the mass loss (Δm) using the isoconversional methods (Friedman (FR), Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS)) has been presented in a previous paper. It was obtained that the sample dried at 125°C for 8 h exhibits the activation energy independent on the heating rate for the second decomposition step. In this paper the invariant kinetic parameter (IKP) method is used for evaluating the invariant activation parameters, which were used for numerically evaluation of the function of conversion. The value of the invariant activation energy is in a good agreement with those determined by isoconversional methods. In order to determine the kinetic model, IKP method was associated with the criterion of coincidence of the kinetic parameters for all heating rates. Finally, the following kinetic triplet was obtained: E=91.7 (±0.1) kJ mol⁻¹, lnA(s⁻¹)=16.174 (±0.020) and F1 kinetic model.