Reaction gas chromatography: Study of the photodecomposition of selected substances

Summary A simple apparatus that permits to carry out photolytic reactions in direct connection with a gas chromatograph has been designed. The photodecomposition of C₅–C₇ aliphatic alkanes, C₁–C₅ primary, secondary and tertiary aliphatic alcohols and of some other substances was studied using this apparatus. The degradation products are characteristic of the individual types of alcohols. The identification of the individual types of alcohols. The identification of the degradation products confirms the proposed schemes for the photodegradation reactions. The apparatus described can also be used for the study of photolysis kinetics, as it permits the easy and rapid variation of the reaction conditions.