The hetero‐homogeneous pyrolysis of propane,in the presence or in the absence of dihydrogen,and the measurement of uptake coefficients of hydrogen atoms

Propane pyrolysis is studied in the presence and the absence of dihydrogen between 743 and 803 K, in the propane pressure range 10–100 Torr, and at 20–254 Torr dihydrogen pressure. In unpacked Pyrex reactors, dihydrogen accelerates propane dehydrogenation and demethanation. The reaction is modeled by a conventional homogeneous free‐radical chain mechanism. Propane pyrolysis is strongly inhibited by the walls of reactors packed with stainless steel, zirconium, or palladium foils. Adding dihydrogen to propane still increases the rates of product formation. The reaction in these packed reactors is modeled by the kinetic scheme proposed for the homogeneous reaction and by the heterogeneous process H. ⇄ ½H₂ (w₂)(−w₂) of chain termination and initiation. In the absence of dihydrogen, step (−w₂) is negligible and precise values of uptake coefficients of hydrogen atoms are obtained at 773 K: 0.31 for stainless steel 0.10 for zirconium 0.05 for palladium In the presence of dihydrogen, steps (w₂) and (−:w₂) are instantaneously at equilibrium. The latter system should be useful to study any reaction of hydrogen atoms in the temperature range. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 340–364, 2000