An experimental and modeling study of ethanol oxidation kinetics in an atmospheric pressure flow reactor

Experimental profiles of stable species concentrations and temperature are reported for the flow reactor oxidation of ethanol at atmospheric pressure, initial temperatures near 1100 K and equivalence ratios of 0.61–1.24. Acetaldehyde, ethene, and methane appear in roughly equal concentrations as major intermediate species under these conditions. A detailed chemical mechanism is validated by comparison with the experimental species profiles. The importance of including all three isomeric forms of the C₂H₅O radical in such a mechanism is demonstrated. The primary source of ethene in ethanol oxidation is verified to be the decomposition of the C₂H₄OH radical. The agreement between the model and experiment at 1100 K is optimized when the branching ratio of the reactions of C₂H₅OH with OH and H is defined by (30% C₂H₄OH + 50% CH₃CHOH + 20% CH₃CH₂O) + XH. As in methanol oxidation, HO₂ chemistry is very important, while the H + O₂ chain branching reaction plays only a minor role until late in fuel decay, even at temperatures above 1100 K.     

Methanol oxidation in a flow reactor: Implications for the branching ratio of the CH3OH+OH reaction

The oxidation of methanol in a flow reactor has been studied experimentally under diluted, fuel-lean conditions at 650–1350 K, over a wide range of O₂ concentrations (1%–16%), and with and without the presence of nitric oxide. The reaction is initiated above 900 K, with the oxidation rate decreasing slightly with the increasing O₂ concentration. Addition of NO results in a mutually promoted oxidation of CH₃OH and NO in the 750–1100 K range. The experimental results are interpreted in terms of a revised chemical kinetic model. Owing to the high sensitivity of the mutual sensitization of CH₃OH and NO oxidation to the partitioning of CH₃O and CH₂OH, the CH₃OH + OH branching fraction could be estimated as α = 0.10 ± 0.05 at 990 K. Combined with low-temperature measurements, this value implies a branching fraction that is largely independent of temperature. It is in good agreement with recent theoretical estimates, but considerably lower than values employed in previous modeling studies. Modeling predictions with the present chemical kinetic model is in quantitative agreement with experimental results below 1100 K, but at higher temperatures and high O₂ concentration the model underpredicts the oxidation rate. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 423–441, 2008     

Rate Coeffcients and Branching Ratio for Multi-Channel Hydrogen Abstractions from CH3OH by F

The hydrogen abstraction reaction F+CH₃OH has two possible reaction pathways: HF+CH₃O and HF+CH₂OH. Despite the absence of intrinsic barriers for both channels, the former has a branching ratio comparable to the latter, which is far from the statistical limit of 0.25 (one out of four available H atoms). Furthermore, the measured branching ratio of the two abstraction channels spans a large range and is not quantitatively reproduced by previous theoretical predictions based on the transition-state theory with the stationary point information calculated at the levels of M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory and G2. This work reports a theoretical investigation on the kinetics and the associated branching ratio of the two competing channels of the title reaction using a quasi-classical trajectory approach on an accurate full-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) fitted by the permutation invariant polynomial-neural network approach to ca. 1.21x10⁵ points calculated at the explicitly correlated (F12a) version of coupled cluster singles doubles and perturbative triples (CCSD(T)) level with the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set. The calculated room temperature rate coeffcient and branching ratio of the HF+CH₃O channel are in good agreement with the available experimental data. Furthermore, our theory predicts that rate coeffcients have a slightly negative temperature dependence, consistent with barrierless nature of the reaction.     

Theoretical study on the gas‐phase reaction mechanism between rhodium monoxide and methane for methanol production

The gas‐phase reaction mechanism between methane and rhodium monoxide for the formation of methanol, syngas, formaldehyde, water, and methyl radical have been studied in detail on the doublet and quartet state potential energy surfaces at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(2d, 2p), SDD//B3LYP/6‐311+G(2d, 2p), SDD level. Over the 300–1100 K temperature range, the branching ratio for the Rh(⁴F) + CH₃OH channel is 97.5–100%, whereas the branching ratio for the D‐CH₂ORh + H₂ channel is 0.0–2.5%, and the branching ratio for the D‐CH₂ORh + H₂ channel is so small to be ruled out. The minimum energy reaction pathway for the main product methanol formation involving two spin inversions prefers to both start and terminate on the ground quartet state, where the ground doublet intermediate CH₃RhOH is energetically preferred, and its formation rate constant over the 300–1100 K temperature range is fitted by k_CH3RhOH = 7.03 × 10⁶ exp(?69.484/RT) dm³ mol^?1 s^?1. On the other hand, the main products shall be Rh + CH₃OH in the reactions of RhO + CH₄, CH₂ORh + H₂, Rh + CO +2H₂, and RhCH₂ + H₂O, whereas the main products shall be CH₂ORh + H₂ in the reaction of Rh + CH₃OH. Meanwhile, the doublet intermediates H₂RhOCH₂ and CH₃RhOH are predicted to be energetically favored in the reactions of Rh + CH₃OH and CH₂ORh + H₂ and in the reaction of RhCH₂ + H₂O, respectively. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2010     

Experimental and kinetic modeling study of the effect of sulfur dioxide on the mutual sensitization of the oxidation of nitric oxide and methane

New experimental results were obtained for the mutual sensitization of the oxidation of NO and methane in a fused silica jet‐stirred reactor operating at 10⁵ Pa, over the temperature range 800–1150 K. The effect of the addition of sulfur dioxide was studied. Probe sampling followed by online FTIR analyses and off‐line GC‐TCD/FID analyses allowed the measurement of concentration profiles for the reactants, stable intermediates, and final products. A detailed chemical kinetic modeling of the present experiments was performed. An overall reasonable agreement between the present data and modeling was obtained. According to the present modeling, the mutual sensitization of the oxidation of methane and NO proceeds via the NO to NO₂ conversion by HO₂ and CH₃O₂. The conversion of NO to NO₂ by CH₃O₂ is more important at low temperatures (800 K) than at higher temperatures (850–900 K) where the production of NO₂ is mostly due to the reaction of NO with HO₂. The NO to NO₂ conversion is favored by the production of the HO₂ and CH₃O₂ radicals yielded from the oxidation of the fuel. The production of OH resulting from the oxidation of NO accelerates the oxidation of the fuel: NO + HO₂ → OH+ NO₂ followed by OH + CH₄→ CH₃. In the lower temperature range of this study, the reaction further proceeds via CH₃ + O₂→ CH₃O₂; CH₃O₂+ NO → CH₃O + NO₂. At higher temperatures, the production of CH₃O involves NO₂: CH₃+ NO₂→ CH₃O. This sequence of reactions is followed by CH₃O → CH₂O + H; CH₂O +OH → HCO; HCO + O₂ → HO₂ and H + O₂ → HO₂ → CH₂O + H; CH₂O +OH → HCO; HCO + O₂ → HO₂ and H + O₂ → HO₂. The data and the modeling show that unexpectedly, SO₂ has no measurable effect on the kinetics of the mutual sensitization of the oxidation of NO and methane in the present conditions, whereas it frequently acts as an inhibitor in combustion. This result was rationalized via a detailed kinetic analysis indicating that the inhibiting effect of SO₂ via the sequence of reactions SO₂+H → HOSO, HOSO+O₂ → SO₂+HO₂, equivalent to H+O₂?HO₂, is balanced by the reaction promoting step NO+HO₂ → NO₂+OH. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 406–413, 2005     

Validation of a thermal decomposition mechanism of formaldehyde by detection of CH2O and HCO behind shock waves

The thermal decomposition of formaldehyde was investigated behind shock waves at temperatures between 1675 and 2080 K. Quantitative concentration time profiles of formaldehyde and formyl radicals were measured by means of sensitive 174 nm VUV absorption (CH₂O) and 614 nm FM spectroscopy (HCO), respectively. The rate constant of the radical forming channel (1a), CH₂O + M → HCO + H + M, of the unimolecular decomposition of formaldehyde in argon was measured at temperatures from 1675 to 2080 K at an average total pressure of 1.2 bar, k_1a = 5.0 × 10¹⁵ exp(‐308 kJ mol^?1/RT) cm³ mol^?1 s^?1. The pressure dependence, the rate of the competing molecular channel (1b), CH₂O + M → H₂ + CO + M, and the branching fraction β = k_1a/(kA_1a + k_1b) was characterized by a two‐channel RRKM/master equation analysis. With channel (1b) being the main channel at low pressures, the branching fraction was found to switch from channel (1b) to channel (1a) at moderate pressures of 1–50 bar. Taking advantage of the results of two preceding publications, a decomposition mechanism with six reactions is recommended, which was validated by measured formyl radical profiles and numerous literature experimental observations. The mechanism is capable of a reliable prediction of almost all formaldehyde pyrolysis literature data, including CH₂O, CO, and H atom measurements at temperatures of 1200–3200 K, with mixtures of 7 ppm to 5% formaldehyde, and pressures up to 15 bar. Some evidence was found for a self‐reaction of two CH₂O molecules. At high initial CH₂O mole fractions the reverse of reaction (6), CH₂OH + HCO ? CH₂O + CH₂O becomes noticeable. The rate of the forward reaction was roughly measured to be k₆ = 1.5 × 10¹³ cm³ mol^?1 s^?1. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 157–169 2004     

Ab initio and RRKM calculations for the reaction channels of O(1D) + CH3CHF2

Ab initio and Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theories are carried out to study the potential energy surface and the energy‐dependent rate constants and branching ratios of the products for O(¹D) + CH₃CHF₂ reaction. Optimized geometries and vibrational frequencies have been obtained by MP2/6‐311G(d,p) method. The main products of the title reaction are CH₃CFO + HF, CH₂CFOH + HF, and CH₃ + CF₂OH at lower collision energy; and CH₃ + CF₂OH, CH₃CF₂ + OH are the main products at higher collision energy. CHF₂ + CH₂OH are the main products in the whole range of collision energy. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

A Computational Study of the Kinetics and Mechanism for the C2H3 + CH3OH Reaction

The mechanism for the C₂H₃ + CH₃OH reaction has been investigated by the Gaussian‐4 (G4) method based on the geometric parameters of the stationary points optimized at the B3LYP/6–31G(2df, p) level of theory. Four transition states have been identified for the production of C₂H₄ + CH₃O (TSR/P1), C₂H₄ + CH₂OH (TSR/P2), C₂H₃OH + CH₃ (TSR/P3), and C₂H₃OCH₃ + H (TSR/P4) with the corresponding barriers 8.48, 9.25, 37.62, and 34.95 kcal/mol at the G4 level of theory, respectively. The rate constants and branching ratios for the two lower energy H‐abstraction reactions were calculated using canonical variational transition state theory with the Eckart tunneling correction at the temperature range 300–2500 K. The predicted rate constants have been compared with existing literature data, and the uncertainty has been discussed. The branching ratio calculation suggests that the channel producing CH₃O is dominant up to about 1070 K, above which the channel producing CH₂OH becomes very competitive.     

Toward a comprehensive mechanism for methanol pyrolysis

A single kinetic mechanism for methanol pyrolysis is tested against multiple sets of experimental data for the first time. Data are considered from static, flow, and shock tube reactors, covering temperatures of 973 to 2000 K and pressures of 0.3 to 1 atmosphere. The model results are highly sensitive to the rates of unimolecular fuel decomposition and of various chain termination reactions that remove CH₂OH and H radicals, as well as to experimental temperature uncertainties. The secondary fuel decomposition reaction CH₃OH = CH₂OH + H, which has previously been included only in mechanisms for high temperature conditions, is found to have a significant effect at low temperatures as well, through radical recombination. The reaction CH₃O + C = CH₃ + CO₂, rather than CH₃OH + H = CH₃ + H₂O, is found to be the dominant source of CH₃ at low temperatures. The reverse of CH₃ + OH = CH₂OH + H is important to CH₃ production at high temperatures.     

The hydroxyl radical reaction rate constant and atmospheric transformation products of 2-butanol and 2-pentanol

The relative rate technique has been used to measure the hydroxyl radical (OH) reaction rate constant of +2-butanol (2BU, CH₃CH₂CH(OH)CH₃) and 2-pentanol (2PE, CH₃CH₂CH₂CH(OH)CH₃). 2BU and 2PE react with OH yielding bimolecular rate constants of (8.1±2.0)×10⁻¹² cm³molecule⁻¹s⁻¹ and (11.9±3.0)×10⁻¹² cm³molecule⁻¹s⁻¹, respectively, at 297±3 K and 1 atmosphere total pressure. Both 2BU and 2PE OH rate constants reported here are in agreement with previously reported values [1–4]. In order to more clearly define these alcohols' atmospheric reaction mechanisms, an investigation into the OH+alcohol reaction products was also conducted. The OH+2BU reaction products and yields observed were: methyl ethyl ketone (MEK, (60±2)%, CH₃CH₂C((DOUBLEBOND)O)CH₃) and acetaldehyde ((29±4)% HC((DOUBLEBOND)O)CH₃). The OH+2PE reaction products and yields observed were: 2-pentanone (2PO, (41±4)%, CH₃C((DOUBLEBOND)O)CH₂CH₂CH₃), propionaldehyde ((14±2)% HC((DOUBLEBOND)O)CH₂CH₃), and acetaldehyde ((40±4)%, HC((DOUBLEBOND)O)CH₃). The alcohols' reaction mechanisms are discussed in light of current understanding of oxygenated hydrocarbon atmospheric chemistry. Labeled (¹⁸O) 2BU/OH reactions were conducted to investigate 2BU's atmospheric transformation mechanism details. The findings reported here can be related to other structurally similar alcohols and may impact regulatory tools such as ground level ozone-forming potential calculations (incremental reactivity) [5]. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 745–752, 1998     

Probing the pyrolysis of ethyl formate in the dilute gas phase by synchrotron radiation and theory

The thermal decomposition of the atmospheric constituent ethyl formate was studied by coupling flash pyrolysis with imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence (iPEPICO) spectroscopy using synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation at the Swiss Light Source (SLS). iPEPICO allows photoion mass-selected threshold photoelectron spectra (ms-TPES) to be obtained for pyrolysis products. By threshold photoionization and ion imaging, parent ions of neutral pyrolysis products and dissociative photoionization products could be distinguished, and multiple spectral carriers could be identified in several ms-TPES. The TPES and mass-selected TPES for ethyl formate are reported for the first time and appear to correspond to ionization of the lowest energy conformer having a cis (eclipsed) configuration of the O = C (H)– O – C (H₂)–CH₃ and trans (staggered) configuration of the O= C (H)– O – C (H₂)– C H₃ dihedral angles. We observed the following ethyl formate pyrolysis products: CH₃CH₂OH, CH₃CHO, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, HC(O)OH, CH₂O, CO₂, and CO, with HC(O)OH and C₂H₄ pyrolyzing further, forming CO + H₂O and C₂H₂ + H₂. The reaction paths and energetics leading to these products, together with the products of two homolytic bond cleavage reactions, CH₃CH₂O + CHO and CH₃CH₂ + HC(O)O, were studied computationally at the M06-2X-GD3/aug-cc-pVTZ and SVECV-f12 levels of theory, complemented by further theoretical methods for comparison. The calculated reaction pathways were used to derive Arrhenius parameters for each reaction. The reaction rate constants and branching ratios are discussed in terms of the residence time and newly suggest carbon monoxide as a competitive primary fragmentation product at high temperatures.     

A detailed chemical kinetic model for high temperature ethanol oxidation

A detailed chemical kinetic model for ethanol oxidation has been developed and validated against a variety of experimental data sets. Laminar flame speed data (obtained from a constant volume bomb and counterflow twin‐flame), ignition delay data behind a reflected shock wave, and ethanol oxidation product profiles from a jet‐stirred and turbulent flow reactor were used in this computational study. Good agreement was found in modeling of the data sets obtained from the five different experimental systems. The computational results show that high temperature ethanol oxidation exhibits strong sensitivity to the fall‐off kinetics of ethanol decomposition, branching ratio selection for C₂H₅OH + OH ↔ Products, and reactions involving the hydroperoxyl (HO₂) radical. The multichanneled ethanol decomposition process is analyzed by RRKM/Master Equation theory, and the results are compared with those obtained from earlier studies. The ten‐parameter Troe form is used to define the C₂H₅OH(+M) ↔ CH₃ + CH₂OH(+M) rate expression as k^∞ = 5.94E23 T^−1.68 exp(−45880 K/T) (s⁻¹) k^o = 2.88E85 T^−18.9 exp(−55317 K/T) (cm³/mol/sec) F_cent = 0.5 exp(−T/200 K) + 0.5 exp(−T/890 K) + exp(−4600 K/T) and the C₂H₅OH(+M) ↔ C₂H₄ + H₂O(+M) rate expression as k^∞ = 2.79E13 T^0.09 exp(−33284 K/T) (s⁻¹) k^o = 2.57E83 T^−18.85 exp(−43509 K/T) (cm³/mol/sec) F _cent = 0.3 exp(−T/350 K) + 0.7 exp(−T/800 K) + exp(−3800 K/T) with an applied energy transfer per collision value of <ΔE_down> = 500 cm⁻¹. An empirical branching ratio estimation procedure is presented which determines the temperature dependent branching ratios of the three distinct sites of hydrogen abstraction from ethanol. The calculated branching ratios for C₂H₅OH + OH, C₂H₅OH + O, C₂H₅OH + H, and C₂H₅OH + CH₃ are compared to experimental data. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 183–220, 1999     

Shock‐tube and modeling study of acetaldehyde pyrolysis and oxidation

Pyrolysis and oxidation of acetaldehyde were studied behind reflected shock waves in the temperature range 1000–1700 K at total pressures between 1.2 and 2.8 atm. The study was carried out using the following methods, (1) time‐resolved IR‐laser absorption at 3.39 μm for acetaldehyde decay and CH‐compound formation rates, (2) time‐resolved UV absorption at 200 nm for CH₂CO and C₂H₄ product formation rates, (3) time‐resolved UV absorption at 216 nm for CH₃ formation rates, (4) time‐resolved UV absorption at 306.7 nm for OH radical formation rate, (5) time‐resolved IR emission at 4.24 μm for the CO₂ formation rate, (6) time‐resolved IR emission at 4.68 μm for the CO and CH₂CO formation rate, and (7) a single‐pulse technique for product yields. From a computer‐simulation study, a 178‐reaction mechanism that could satisfactorily model all of our data was constructed using new reactions, CH₃CHO (+M) → CH₄ + CO (+M), CH₃CHO (+M) → CH₂CO + H₂(+M), H + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + H₂, CH₃ + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + CH₄, O₂ + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + HO₂, O + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + OH, OH + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + H₂O, HO₂ + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + H₂O₂, having assumed or evaluated rate constants. The submechanisms of methane, ethylene, ethane, formaldehyde, and ketene were found to play an important role in acetaldehyde oxidation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 40: 73–102, 2008     

Production of hydrogen by oxidative steam reforming of methanol over Cu/SiO2 catalysts

Selective production of hydrogen by oxidative steam reforming of methanol (OSRM) was studied over Cu/SiO₂ catalyst using fixed bed flow reactor. Textural and structural properties of the catalyst were analyzed by various instrumental methods. TPR analysis illustrates that the reduction temperature peak was observed between 510?K and 532?K at various copper loadings and calcination temperatures and the peaks shifted to higher temperature with increasing copper loading and calcination temperature. The XRD and XPS analysis demonstrates that the copper existed in different oxidation states at different conditions: Cu₂O, Cu⁰, CuO and Cu(OH)₂ in uncalcined sample; CuO in calcined sample: Cu₂O and metallic Cu after reduction at 600?K and Cu⁰ and CuO after catalytic test. TEM analysis reveals that at various copper loadings, the copper particle size is in the range between 3.0?nm and 3.8?nm. The Cu particle size after catalytic test increased from 3.6 to 4.8?nm, which is due to the formation of oxides of copper as evidenced from XRD and XPS analysis. The catalytic performance at various Cu loadings shows that with increasing Cu loading from 4.7 to 17.3?wt%, the activity increases and thereafter it decreases. Effect of calcination shows that the sample calcined at 673?K exhibited high activity. The O₂/CH₃OH and H₂O/CH₃OH molar ratios play important role in reaction rate and product distribution. The optimum molar ratios of O₂/CH₃OH and H₂O/CH₃OH are 0.25 and 0.1, respectively. When the reaction temperature varied from 473 to 548?K, the methanol conversion and H₂ production rate are in the range of 21.9–97.5% and 1.2–300.9?mmol?kg^?1?s^?1, respectively. The CO selectivity is negligible at these temperatures. Under the optimum conditions (17.3?wt%, Cu/SiO₂; calcination temperature 673?K; 0.25 O₂/CH₃OH molar ratio, 0.5 H₂O/CH₃OH molar ratio and reaction temperature 548?K), the maximum hydrogen yield obtained was 2.45?mol of hydrogen per mole of methanol. The time on stream stability test showed that the Cu/SiO₂ catalyst is quite stable for 48?h.     

Bimolecular QRRK analysis of methyl radical reactions

Reactions which proceed through energized adducts, including radical recombinations, insertions, and addition to unsaturates, frequently exhibit unusual kinetic behavior. The branching ratios among various product channels are often complex functions of both temperature and pressure. Four such reactions involving methyl radicals are analyzed by combining chemical activation distribution functions with QRRK methods to predict rate constants for each channel. These include three oxidation paths, CH₃ + O, CH₃ + O₂, CH₃ + OH, and the addition reaction CH₃ + C₂H₂. These predictions are compared to experiments wherever possible; generally, the agreement is quite satisfactory. Analysis of the energetics of the various reaction channels, using parameters which are readily available, provides a convenient framework for prediction. Suggested rate constants for the various channels for the four reactions are given at three pressures, 20, 760, and 7600 Torr, for the temperature range 300–2500 K. The approach used here can easily be applied to other reactions.     

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     

Study of the ethane oxidation reaction by the kinetic tracer method

The kinetics of ethane oxidation was studied at 320, 340, 353 and 380°C, mixture composition 2 C₂H₆ + 1 O₂, and total pressure 609 torr. It was found that at 320°C CH₂O and CH₃CHO were branching agents. A series of experiments was conducted on 2C₂H₆ + O₂ oxidation in the presence of 0.7% ¹⁴C-labeled ethylene. The ethylene oxide was found to form only from C₂H₄, formaldehyde formed from C₂H₄ and C₂H₆; and CH₃CHO, C₂H₅OH, and CH₃OH formed only from ethane. The formation rates of C₂H₄, C₂H₄O, and CH₂O were calculated by the kinetic tracer method. At 320°C the fraction of oxygen-containing products formed from C₂H₄ was 16–18%, and at 353 and 380°C it was 30–40%.     

Theoretical study on the gas-phase reaction mechanism between rhodium monoxide cation and methane

The gas-phase reaction mechanism between rhodium monoxide cation and methane has been investigated on the singlet and triplet state potential energy surfaces at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(2d,2p), SDD//B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,2p), SDD level. Over the 300–1100 K temperature range, the branching ratios of Rh⁺ + CH₃OH and RhCH₂ ⁺ + H₂O are 83.8–52.6% and 16.2–47.4%, respectively, whereas the branching ratio of CH₂ORh⁺ + H₂ is so small to be negligible. For the main products (Rh⁺ + CH₃OH and RhCH₂ ⁺ + H₂O) formation, the minimum energy reaction pathway involves singlet–triplet spin inversion, and both b-RhCH₃OH⁺ and H₂ORhCH₂ ⁺ are the energetically preferred intermediates. Alternatively, in the CH₂ORh⁺ + H₂ reaction, both b-RhCH₃OH⁺ and H₂RhOCH₂ ⁺ are the energetically favorable intermediates, and the main products are Rh⁺ + CH₃OH. In the RhCH₂ ⁺ + H₂O reaction, the main products are Rh⁺ + CH₃OH with the energetically predominant intermediate b-RhCH₃OH⁺. In the reaction of Rh⁺ + CH₃OH, both b-RhCH₃OH⁺ and H₂RhOCH₂ ⁺ are the energetically preferable intermediates, and the main products are CH₂ORh⁺ + H₂. Besides, toward methane activation, the cation RhO⁺ exhibits higher reaction efficiency than the cation Rh⁺, the neutral RhO, and its first-row congener CoO⁺, and it exhibits lower methanol branching ratio and higher water branching ratio than RhO and CoO⁺.     

Study on the equilibrium in the M(CH3COO)2 ? CH3OH ? H2O system (M  Mg2+, Ca2+, Ba2+) at 25°C

The complex formation and dehydration processes in the system M(CH₃COO)₂? CH₃OH? H₂O have been studied by the methods of the physico-chemical analysis at 25°C; (M = Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺). In the Mg(CH₃COO)₂? CH₃OH? H₂O system. methanol was found to behave as a solvent in which complex formation reactions take place, including also methanolation of Mg²⁺. The fields of equilibrium existence of two new compounds have been found: Mg(CH₃COO)₂ · 3H₂O · CH₃OH and Mg(CH₃COO)₂ · 1,5 CH₃OH. In the systems M(CH₃COO)₂? CH₃OH? H₂O (M = Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺), methanol was found to react as a dehydrating reagent.     

Kinetics of the CH3O2 + HO2 reaction: A temperature and pressure dependence study using chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A temperature and pressure kinetic study for the CH₃O₂ + HO₂ reaction has been performed using the turbulent flow technique with a chemical ionization mass spectrometry detection system. An Arrhenius expression was obtained for the overall rate coefficient of CH₃O₂ + HO₂ reaction: k(T) = (3.82^+2.79_?1.61) × 10^?13 exp[(?781 ± 127)/T] cm^?3 molecule^?1 s^?1. A direct quantification of the branching ratios for the O₃ and OH product channels, at pressures between 75 and 200 Torr and temperatures between 298 and 205 K, was also investigated. The atmospheric implications of considering the upper limit rate coefficients for the O₃ and OH branching channels are observed with a significant reduction of the concentration of CH₃OOH, which leads to a lower amount of methyl peroxy radical. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 571–579, 2007