Flow reactor studies and kinetic modeling of the H2/O2 reaction

Profile measurements of the H₂/O₂ reaction have been obtained using a variable pressure flow reactor over pressure and temperature ranges of 0.3–15.7 atm and 850–1040 K, respectively. These data span the explosion limit behavior of the system and place significant emphasis on HO₂ and H₂O₂ kinetics. The explosion limits of dilute H₂/O₂/N₂ mixtures extend to higher pressures and temperatures than those previously observed for undiluted H₂/O₂ mixtures. In addition, the explosion limit data exhibit a marked transition to an extended second limit which runs parallel to the second limit criteria calculated by assuming HO₂ formation to be terminating. The experimental data and modeling results show that the extended second limit remains an important boundary in H₂/O₂ kinetics. Near this limit, small increases in pressure can result in more than a two order of magnitude reduction in reaction rate. At conditions above the extended second limit, the reaction is characterized by an overall activation energy much higher than in the chain explosive regime. The overall data set, consisting primarily of experimentally measured profiles of H₂, O₂, H₂O, and temperature, further expand the data base used for comprehensive mechanism development for the H₂/O₂ and CO/H₂O/O₂ systems. Several rate constants recommended in an earlier reaction mechanism have been modified using recently published rate constant data for H + O₂ (+ N₂) = HO₂ (+ N₂), HO₂ + OH = H₂O + O₂, and HO₂ + HO₂ = H₂O₂ + O₂. When these new rate constants are incorporated into the reaction mechanism, model predictions are in very good agreement with the experimental data. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 113–125, 1999     

The Dependence on H2O and on NH3 of the Kinetics of the self-reaction of HO2 in the gas-phase formation of HO2·H2O and HO2·NH3 complexes

Electron pulse radiolysis at ?298°K of 2 atm H₂ containing 5 torr O₂ produces HO₂ free radical whose disappearance by reaction (1), HO₂ + HO₂ →H₂O₂ + O₂, is monitored by kinetic spectrophotometry at 230.5 nm. Using a literature value for the HO₂ absorption cross section, the values k₁ = 2.5×10^?12 cm³/molec·sec, which is in reasonable agreement with two earlier studies, and G(H) G(HO₂) ?13 are obtained. In the presence of small amounts of added H₂O or NH₃, the observed second-order decay rate of the HO₂ signal is found to increase by up to a factor of ?2.5. A proposed kinetic model quantitatively explains these data in terms of the formation of previously unpostulated 1:1 complexes, HO₂ + H₂O ? HO₂·H₂O (4a) and HO₂ + NH₃? HO₂·NH₃ (4b), which are more reactive than uncomplexed HO₂ toward a second uncomplexed HO₂ radical. The following equilibrium constants, which agree with independent theoretical calculations on these complexes, are derived from the data: 2×10^?20?K_4a?6.3 × 10^?19 cm³/molec at 295°K and K_4b = 3.4 × 10^?18 cm³/molec at 298°K. Several deuterium isotope effects are also reported, including k_H/k_D = 2.8 for reaction (1). The atmospheric significance of these results is pointed out.     

Direct determination of the rate constant of the reaction NO + HO2 → NO2 + OH with the LMR

The rate of the reaction was determined in an isothermal discharge flow reactor with a combined ESR–LMR detection under pseudo-first-order conditions in HO₂. The rate constant was identical in experiments with two different HO₂ sources: F + H₂O₂ and H + O₂ + M. The absolute rate constant at T = 293 K was measured as In the range 2 ≤ p mbar ≤ 17 no pressure dependence for k₁ was found.     

Experimental and Kinetic Modeling Study of C2H2 Oxidation at High Pressure

A detailed chemical kinetic model for oxidation of acetylene at intermediate temperatures and high pressure has been developed and evaluated experimentally. The rate coefficients for the reactions of C₂H₂ with HO₂ and O₂ were investigated, based on the recent analysis of the potential energy diagram for C₂H₃ + O₂ by Goldsmith et al. and on new ab initio calculations, respectively. The C₂H₂ + HO₂ reaction involves nine pressure‐ and temperature‐dependent product channels, with formation of triplet CHCHO being dominant under most conditions. The barrier to reaction for C₂H₂ + O₂ was found to be more than 50 kcal mol^?1 and predictions of the initiation temperature were not sensitive to this reaction. Experiments were conducted with C₂H₂/O₂ mixtures highly diluted in N₂ in a high‐pressure flow reactor at 600–900 K and 60 bar, varying the reaction stoichiometry from very lean to fuel‐rich conditions. Model predictions were generally in satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. Under the investigated conditions, the oxidation pathways for C₂H₂ are more complex than those prevailing at higher temperatures and lower pressures. Acetylene is mostly consumed by recombination with H to form vinyl (reducing conditions) or with OH to form a CHCHOH adduct (stoichiometric to lean conditions). Both C₂H₃ and CHCHOH then react primarily with O₂. The CHCHOH + O₂ reaction leads to formation of significant amounts of glyoxal (OCHCHO) and formic acid (HOCHO), and the oxidation chemistry of these intermediates is important for the overall reaction.     

Kinetics of the reaction Cl + HO2 = HCl + O2, using molecular modulation spectrometry

The rate constant for the reaction (1), Cl + HO₂ → HCl + O₂, was measured using molecular modulation spectrometry to investigate HO₂ radical kinetics in the modulated photolysis of Cl₂? ;H₂? O₂ mixtures at 760 torr pressure. HO₂ was monitored directly in absorption at 220 nm, and k₁ was determined from computer simulations of the observed kinetic behavior of HO₂, using a simple chemical model. The results gave where k₄ is the rate constant for the reaction of Cl with H₂. A consensus value of k₄ gave k₁ = 6.9 × 10^?11 cm³/molecule sec, independent of temperature in the range of 274–338 K with an overall uncertainty of ±50%. The relative importance of reaction (1) for the conversion of Cl to HCl in the stratosphere is discussed briefly.     

Yields of O2(1Σg+) and O2(1Δg) in the H + O2 reaction system,and the quenching of O2(1Σg+) by atomic hydrogen

The generation of metastable O₂(¹Σg⁺) and O₂(¹Δg) in the H + O₂ system of reactions was studied by the flow discharge chemiluminescence detection method. In addition to the O₂(¹Σg⁺) and O₂(¹Δg) emissions, strong OH(v = 2) → OH(v = 0), OH(v = 3) → OH(v = 1), HO₂(²A′₀₀₀) → HO₂(²A″₀₀₀), HO₂(²A′₀₀₁) → HO₂(²A″₀₀₀), and H O₂(²A″₂₀₀) → HO₂(²A″₀₀₀) emissions were detected in the H + O₂ system. The rate constants for the quenching of O₂(¹Σg⁺) by H and H₂ were determined to be (5.1 ± 1.4) × 10^?13 and (7.1 ± 0.1) × 10^?13 cm³ s^?1, respectively. An upper limit for the branching ratio to produce O₂(¹Σg⁺) by the H + HO₂ reaction was calculated to be 2.1%. The contributions from other reactions producing singlet oxygen were investigated.     

Unusual H2-forming chain reaction in the 3130-Å photolysis of formaldehyde-oxygen mixtures at 25°C

A kinetic study has been made of the 3130-Å photolysis of CH₂O (8 torr) in O₂-containing mixtures (0.02–8 torr) and in the presence of added CO₂ (0–300 torr) at 25°C. Quantum yields of formation of H₂, CO, and CO₂ and the loss of O₂ were measured. Φ and Φ_CO were much above unity. In an explanation of these unexpected results, a new H-atom-forming chain mechanism was postulated involving HO₂ and HO addition to CH₂O: CH₂O + hν → H + HCO (1) H + CH₂O → H₂ + HCO (3) H + O₂ + M → HO₂ + M (6) HCO + O₂ → HO₂ + CO (8) HO₂ + CH₂O → (HO₂CH₂O) → HO + HCO₂H (15) HO + CH₂O → H₂O + HCO? (16); HCO? → H + CO (19) HO + CH₂O → H₂O + HCO (17) and HO + CH₂O → HCO₂H + H (18). When the results are rationalized in terms of this mechanism, the data suggest k₁₆ ? k₁₇ and k₁₆/k₁₈ ? 0.5. The data require that a reassessment of the relative rates of reactions (7) and (8) be made, since in the previous work HCO₂H formation was used as a monitor of the rate of reaction (7) HCO + O₂ + M → HCOO₂ + M (7). The present data from experiments at P = 8 torr and P = 1–4 torr give k₇[M]/(k₇[M] + k₈) ≥ 0.049 ± 0.017. These data coupled with the k₈ estimates of Washida and coworkers give k₇ ≥ (4.4 ± 1.6) × 10¹¹ l²/mol²·sec for M = CH₂O. The reaction sequence proposed here is consistent with the observed deterimental effect of O₂ addition on the laser-induced isotope enrichment in HDCO. In additional studies of CH₂O-O₂-isobutene mixtures it was found that Φ was equal to ?₂ as estimated in O₂-free CH₂O-isobutene mixtures. These results suggest that the increase in CO (ν = 1) product observed with O₂ addition in CH₂O photolysis does not result from perturbations in the fragmentation pattern of the excited CH₂O, but it is likely that it originates in the occurrence of the exothermic reaction HCO + O₂ → HO₂ + CO (ν = 1).     

A flash photolysis-resonance fluorescence study of the reaction of atomic hydrogen with molecular oxygen H + O2 + M → HO2 + M

Using the technique of flash photolysis-resonance fluorescence, absolute rate constants have been measured for the reaction H + O₂ + M → HO₂+M over a temperature range of 220–360°K. Over this temperature range, the data could be fit to an Arrhenius expression of the following form: The units for k_Ar are cm⁶/mole-s. At 300°K the relative efficiencies for the third-body gases Ar:He:H₂:N₂:CH₄ were found to be 1.0:0.93:3.0:2.8:22. Wide variations in the photoflash intensity at several temperatures demonstrated that the reported rate constants were measured in the absence of other complex chemical processes.     

Rate coefficient for the reaction OH + HO2 = H2O + O2 at 1 atmosphere pressure and 308 K

The rate coefficient for the reaction OH + HO₂ =H₂O + O₂ has been determined from measurements of the steady-state absorption of HO₂ at 210 nm, in low-frequency square-wave modulated photolysis of O₃ + H₂O mixtures. The value obtained was (9.9 ± 2.5) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at 308 K and 1 atm pressure.     

Transient oxygen atom yields in H2?O2 ignition and the rate coefficient for O + H2 → OH + H

Time-resolved measurements of the oxygen atom concentration during shock-wave initiated combustion of low-density (25 ≤ p ≤ 175 kPa) H₂? O₂? CO? CO₂? Ar mixtures have been made by monitoring CO + O → CO₂ + hv (3 to 4 eV) emission intensity, calibrated against partial equilibrium conditions attained promptly at H₂:O₂ = 1. Significant transient excursions (“spikes”) of [O] above constant-mole-number partial-equilibrium levels were found from 1400 to 2000°K for initial H₂:O₂ ratios of 16 and 10 and below ± 1780°K for H₂:O₂ = 6; they did not occur in this range for H₂:O₂ ± 4. Numerical treatment of the H₂? O₂? CO ignition mechanism for our conditions showed [O] to follow a steady-state trajectory governed by large production and consumption rates from the reactions with a pronounced maximum in the production term k_a[H][O₂]. The measured spike concentration data determine k_b/k_a = 3.6 ± 20%, independent of temperature over 1400 ≤ T ≤ 1900°K, which with well-established k_a data yields This result reinforces the higher of several recent combustion-temperature determinations, and its correlation with results below 1000°K produces a distinctly concave upward Arrhenius plot which is closely matched by BEBO transition state calculations.     

Flow reactor studies and kinetic modeling of the H2/O2/NOX and CO/H2O/O2/NOX reactions

Flow reactor experiments were performed over wide ranges of pressure (0.5–14.0 atm) and temperature (750–1100 K) to study H₂/O₂ and CO/H₂O/O₂ kinetics in the presence of trace quantities of NO and NO₂. The promoting and inhibiting effects of NO reported previously at near atmospheric pressures extend throughout the range of pressures explored in the present study. At conditions where the recombination reaction H + O₂ (+M) = HO₂ (+M) is favored over the competing branching reaction, low concentrations of NO promote H₂ and CO oxidation by converting HO₂ to OH. In high concentrations, NO can also inhibit oxidative processes by catalyzing the recombination of radicals. The experimental data show that the overall effects of NO addition on fuel consumption and conversion of NO to NO₂ depend strongly on pressure and stoichiometry. The addition of NO₂ was also found to promote H₂ and CO oxidation but only at conditions where the reacting mixture first promoted the conversion of NO₂ to NO. Experimentally measured profiles of H₂, CO, CO₂, NO, NO₂, O₂, H₂O, and temperature were used to constrain the development of a detailed kinetic mechanism consistent with the previously studied H₂/O₂, CO/H₂O/O₂, H₂/NO₂, and CO/H₂O/N₂O systems. Model predictions generated using the reaction mechanism presented here are in good agreement with the experimental data over the entire range of conditions explored. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 705–724, 1999     

Mechanism of the chain process forming H2 in the photooxidation of formaldehyde

A mechanism for the formation in a chain of H₂, CO, and HCOOH in the photooxidation of formaldehyde is proposed. This mechanism is initiated by the addition of HO₂ to formaldehyde. Hydrogen atoms are produced by the thermal dissociation of the HOCH₂O radical: HOCH₂O → H + HCOOH; ΔH = + 3.2 kcal/mol [5]. Photolysis of CH₂O? O₂? NO mixtures and product analysis were carried out in conjunction with kinetic simulation yielding an estimate for the activation energy of the dissociation reaction : E₅ = 14.9 ± 1.0 kcal/mol. Previous observations of this chain process are considered in view of this mechanism.     

Temperaturabhängigkeit der Ultraviolett-Spektren von H2O2 und von HO2-Radikalen

The absorption spectra of H₂O₂ and of HO₂ radicals have been investigated in shock waves at 1950 ? λ ? 2900 Å and temperatures of 650 and 1100 K. By comparison with room temperature experiments, information on the nature of electronic transitions involved may be obtained.     

Experimental measurements and kinetic modeling of CO/H2/O2/NOx conversion at high pressure

This paper presents results from lean CO/H₂/O₂/NO_x oxidation experiments conducted at 20–100 bar and 600–900 K. The experiments were carried out in a new high‐pressure laminar flow reactor designed to conduct well‐defined experimental investigations of homogeneous gas phase chemistry at pressures and temperatures up to 100 bar and 925 K. The results have been interpreted in terms of an updated detailed chemical kinetic model, designed to operate also at high pressures. The model, describing H₂/O₂, CO/CO₂, and NO_x chemistry, is developed from a critical review of data for individual elementary reactions, with supplementary rate constants determined from ab initio CBS‐QB3 calculations. New or updated rate constants are proposed for important reactions, including OH + HO₂ ? H₂O + O₂, CO + OH ? [HOCO] ? CO₂ + H, HOCO + OH ? CO + H₂O₂, NO₂ + H₂ ? HNO₂ + H, NO₂ + HO₂ ? HONO/HNO₂ + O₂, and HNO₂(+M) ? HONO(+M). Further validation of the model performance is obtained through comparisons with flow reactor experiments from the literature on the chemical systems H₂/O₂, H₂/O₂/NO₂, and CO/H₂O/O₂ at 780–1100 K and 1–10 bar. Moreover, introduction of the reaction CO + H₂O₂ → HOCO + OH into the model yields an improved prediction, but no final resolution, to the recently debated syngas ignition delay problem compared to previous kinetic models. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 454–480, 2008     

Yields of O2(b1Σ) from reactions of HO2

A discharge-flow apparatus with resonance fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection has been used to monitor O₂(b ¹σ) production from several reactions of the HO₂ radical at 300 K and 1-torr total pressure. O₂(b), HO₂, and OH were observed when F atoms were added to H₂O₂ in the gas phase. Signal strengths of O₂(b) were proportional to initial concentrations of H₂O₂ and HO₂. These observations were analyzed by using a simple three step mechanism and a more complete computer simulation with 22 reaction steps. The results indicate that the F + HO₂ reaction yields O₂(b) with an efficiency of (3.6 ± 1.4) × 10^?3. By monitoring [O₂(b)] and [HO₂] upon addition of an excess second reactant to HO₂, O₂(b) yields from the reactions of HO₂ with O, Cl, D, H, and OH were found to be <1 × 10^?2, <5 × 10^?4, <2 × 10^?3, <8 × 10^?3, and <1 × 10^?3, respectively. Yields of O₂(b) from the HO₂ ± HO₂ reaction were found to be less than 3 × 10^?2.     

Direct kinetics study of the temperature dependence of the CH2O branching channel for the CH3O2 + HO2 reaction

A direct kinetics study of the temperature dependence of the CH₂O branching channel for the CH₃O₂ + HO₂ reaction has been performed using the turbulent flow technique with high‐pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry for the detection of reactants and products. The temperature dependence of the CH₂O‐producing channel rate constant was investigated between 298 and 218 K at a pressure of 100 Torr, and the data were fitted to the following Arrhenius expression: 1.6 × 10^?15 × exp[(1730 ± 130)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. Using the Arrhenius expression for the overall rate of the CH₃O₂ + HO₂ reaction and this result, the 298 K branching ratio for the CH₂O producing channel is measured to be 0.11, and the branching ratio is calculated to increase to a value of 0.31 at 218 K, the lowest temperature accessed in this study. The results are compared to the analogous CH₃O₂ + CH₃O₂ reaction and the potential atmospheric ramifications of significant CH₂O production from the CH₃O₂ + HO₂ reaction are discussed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 363–376, 2001     

The temperature dependence of the HO2 + HO2 reaction

The temperature dependence of the rate constant for the reaction HO₂ + HO₂ → H₂O₂ + O₂ (2k₁) has been determined using flash photolysis techniques, over the temperature range 298–510 K, in a nitrogen diluent at a total pressure of 700 Torr. The overall second order state constant is given by k₁ = (4.14 ± 1.15) × 10^?13 exp[(630 ± 115)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, where the quoted errors refer to one standard deviation. This result is compared with previous findings and the negative activation energy is shown to be consistent with the observation that the rate constant is pressure dependent at 700 Torr.     

The kinetics and the mechanism of the oxidation of carbon monoxide in the presence of hydrogen

The kinetics of the slow oxidation of CO in the presence of H₂ have been studied above the second explosion limit for the mixture 2CO + O₂ + X% H₂ at the temperature range of 530–570°C, pressures from 300 to 530 torr, and hydrogen contents of 1.1, 2.8, and 5.7%. The second explosion limit has been experimentally determined for the mixture of 2CO + O₂ containing 1.0, 3.0, and 5.7% H₂. On the basis of the oxidation scheme of CO in the presence of H₂, which includes the accepted mechanism of oxidation of hydrogen supplemented by the reactions in which CO takes part, the second explosion limit and the profiles of the slow reaction are calculated by computer methods. The agreement found between experimental and calculated values allows one to conclude that the scheme under consideration rather completely described the slow reaction above the second limit and the occurrence of the second explosion limit in the mixture CO–O₂–H₂. The rate constant for the reaction HO₂ + CO → OH + CO₂ was calculated from the experimental data and was found to agree with previous determinations.     

The production of H(2S) atoms in the energy-transfer reaction of O2(1Δg) with HO2(X̃2A″)

The reaction of O₂(¹Δg) with HO₂(X?) was studied in an isothermal flow reactor in the pressure range 7?p? 10.7 mbar at temperatures between 299?T? 423 K. H-atom production was observed in the reaction O₂(¹Δg) + HO₂(òA′) - H(²S)+ 2O₂ (³Σ_g^?). The rate of this reaction (k₁) is estimated to be k₁ = (1 ± 0.5) × 10¹⁴ CM³ Mol^?1 s^?1. The implications of this reaction to recent determinations of the rate of the reaction H + O₂(¹Δg) are discussed.     

UV absorption spectra of HO2 and CH3O2 radicals and the kinetics of their mutual reactions at 298 K

We report results of a flash photolysis study of the UV, spectra of HO₂ and CH₃O₂ radicals, obtained by using a calibration technique based on the reaction Cl+NO→NOCl. We also report preliminary results from our study of the kinetics of the reaction CH₃O₂+HO₂→products at room temperature and near atmospheric pressure. Our results are consistent with the only previous direct determination of the rate constant of the second reaction: k₁ = (6.4 ± 1.0) × 10⁻¹²cm₃ molecule⁻ s⁻¹. From the same study we derive rate constants for the self-reaction of HO₂ and CH₃O₂ radicals, which agree with recommended values.