| Abstract: | The photooxidation of formaldehyde in CH2O? O2, oxygen-lean mixtures was studied in the temperature range 298–378 K. H2 and CO formation and the loss of O2 proceed by a chain mechanism, which between 328 and 378 K follows the previously suggested kinetics 1] with one modification. The reaction HO2 + CH2O ? HO2CH2O (5) is now assumed to be reversible and ΔH is estimated to be between 14 and 19 kcal/mol. The relative yields of the chain formed H2 and CO and of the consumed O2 remained constant over the entire temperature range indicating that the relative efficiencies of the HO reactions: HO + CH2O → H2O HCO? (7), HO + CH2O → H2O + HCO (8) and HO + CH2O → HOCH2O (9) are temperature independent. |
