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A flow reactor study of HNCO oxidation chemistry

Journal Article · · Combustion and Flame; (United States)

An experimental and theoretical study of HNCO oxidation has been carried out. The experiments were performed in an isothermal quartz flow reactor, and the effects of temperature, CO concentration, and NO concentration were investigated at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range 1,025--1,425 K. Oxidation of HNCO proceeds mainly through NCO, which subsequently is oxidized to NO or reacts with NO to form N[sub 2] and N[sub 2]O. This sequence of reactions is chain terminating, and for reaction to occur, radicals must be generated either by alternative oxidation pathways or by the presence of other combustibles. A chain-branching oxidation route initiated by reaction of HNCO with O[sub 2] is proposed in order to explain the observed HNCO decay in the absence of inlet CO. Addition of CO enhances HNCO oxidation and the RAPRENO[sub x] process chemistry, since CO oxidation acts to replenish the radical pool. The experimental results show that the mutual presence of HNCO and NO strongly inhibits CO oxidation at lower temperatures. In addition to the chain terminating HNCO/NCO reactions, a second inhibition mechanism involving NO is necessary to explain this behavior. This mechanism is presently believed to be NO/NO[sub 2] interconversion, but additional work is needed to confirm this. Further progress in the understanding of the HNCO chemistry is dependent on an accurate determination of the rate and/or mechanism of a number of key reactions, including HNCO + OH, HNCO + O[sub 2], NCO + NO and NO + O + M.

OSTI ID:
6958800
Journal Information:
Combustion and Flame; (United States), Journal Name: Combustion and Flame; (United States) Vol. 98:3; ISSN CBFMAO; ISSN 0010-2180
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English