Formation of formic and acetic acids by low-temperature condensation of a mixture of methane and water vapor dissociated in MW discharge

Formic and acetic acids are formed by the low-temperature (77 K) condensation of a mixture of methane and water vapor dissociated by MW discharge at a low pressure. The effect of experimental conditions on the yield of HCOOH and AcOH was studied under different experimental conditions. The yields of H, OH, and O₂ from MW discharge in the CH₄+H₂O mixture were determined by ESR in the gas phase under the experimental conditions used to synthesize HCOOH and AcOH. The kinetics of the gas phase reactions in the connecting channel was simulated. The mechanism of formation of HCOOH and AcOH through the interaction of active species from the gas phase on the condensate surface was suggested. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 379–382, February, 2000.