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Pyrolysis of benzene behind reflected shock waves

Journal Article · · Combust. Flame; (United States)

The pyrolysis of benzene was studied in the temperature and pressure range of 1400-2200K and 0.25-0.81 atm using a shock tube coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The mixtures employed were 2.1 and 5% benzene diluted with neon, which yielded a carbon atom density range of (1.6-7.9) x 10/sup 17/ atom cm/sup -3/ in the reflected shock zone. Products were analyzed by recording the mass spectra at 30 ..mu..s intervals during a total observation time of 700-1200 ..mu..s. C/sub 2/H/sub 2/, C/sub 4/H/sub 2/, and C/sub 6/H/sub 2/ were the major products produced during the decomposition. The only species having m/e > 78 were C/sub 8/H/sub 2/ and C/sub 8/H/sub 6/ (phenylacetylene), which were formed in relatively low concentrations and only at the high temperature end of the study. The product analysis was further substantiated by performing experiments with benzene-d6 mixtures under similar conditions. One important finding of this study was the observation that the phenyl radical was not detected above the threshold level of 10/sup -10/ - 10/sup -11/ mol cm/sup -3/ under the reaction conditions investigated. 35 references, 8 figures, 2 tables.

Research Organization:
Univ. of New Orleans, LA
DOE Contract Number:
AS05-79ER10505
OSTI ID:
5045652
Journal Information:
Combust. Flame; (United States), Journal Name: Combust. Flame; (United States) Vol. 54; ISSN CBFMA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English