Formation of Triplet CO in Atomic Oxygen Flames of Acetylene and Carbon Suboxide

In situ infrared emission spectroscopy for quantitative gas-phase measurement under high temperature reaction conditions: an analytical method for methane by means of an innovative small-volume flowing cell

We have used infrared emission spectroscopy (IRES) in order to perform in situ studies under flowing gas-phase conditions. When the small-volume cell developed herein is used, we can (1) observe emission spectra from a hot gas-phase sample having an effective volume much less than one milliliter, (2) observe spectra of typical molecular species present, and (3) observe spectra of the more important molecular species down to below 10% and in some cases even as low as 1%. In addition, an analytical method has been derived in order to conduct quantitative studies under typical reaction conditions. We show that simplifications can be made in the data acquisition and handling for a direct linear correlation between band intensity and concentration with only simple background correction. The practical lower limit for methane in the present setup is approximately 0.5-1% v/v depending on the selected temperature. Our data were collected at 500, 600, and 700 degrees C, respectively. The major features of the present cell design are fairly simple and basically formed by a quartz tube (outer diameter=6 mm, inner diameter=4 mm) inside a metal pipe and two tubular ceramic heaters. This simple setup has advantages and attractive features that have extended the application of IRES to new fields and, in particular, for in situ studies of hydrocarbon reactions at different residence times at high temperature.

CH(A2Δ) Formation in Hydrocarbon Combustion: The Temperature Dependence of the Rate Constant of the Reaction C2H + O2 → CH(A2Δ) + CO2

The temperature dependence of the rate constant of the chemiluminescence reaction C2H + O2 --> CH(A) + CO2, k1e, has been experimentally determined over the temperature range 316-837 K using pulsed laser photolysis techniques. The rate constant was found to have a pronounced positive temperature dependence given by k1e(T) = AT(4.4) exp(1150 +/- 150/T), where A = 1 x 10(-27) cm(3) s(-1). The preexponential factor for k1e, A, which is known only to within an order of magnitude, is based on a revised expression for the rate constant for the C2H + O(3P) --> CH(A) + CO reaction, k2b, of (1.0 +/- 0.5) x 10(-11) exp(-230 K/T) cm3 s(-1) [Devriendt, K.; Van Look, H.; Ceursters, B.; Peeters, J. Chem. Phys. Lett. 1996, 261, 450] and a k2b/k1e determination of this work of 1200 +/- 500 at 295 K. Using the temperature dependence of the rate constant k1e(T)/k1e(300 K), which is much more accurately and precisely determined than is A, we predict an increase in k(1e) of a factor 60 +/- 16 between 300 and 1500 K. The ratio of rate constants k2b/k1e is predicted to change from 1200 +/- 500 at 295 K to 40 +/- 25 at 1500 K. These results suggest that the reaction C2H + O2 --> CH(A) + CO2 contributes significantly to CH(A-->X) chemiluminescence in hot flames and especially under fuel-lean conditions where it probably dominates the reaction C2H + O(3P) --> CH(A) + CO.

Vibrational Distributions of the CO(v) Products of the C2H2+ O(3P) and HCCO + O(3P) Reactions Studied by FTIR Emission

The C2H2 + O(3P) and HCCO + O(3P) reactions are investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) emission spectroscopy. The O(3P) radicals are produced by 193 nm photolysis of an SO2 precursor or microwave discharge in O2. The HCCO radical is either formed in the first step of the C2H2 + O(3P) reaction or by 193 nm photodissociation of ethyl ethynyl ether. Vibrationally excited CO and CO2 products are observed. The microwave discharge experiment [C2H2 + O(3P)] shows a bimodal distribution of the CO(v) product, which is due to the sequential C2H2 + O(3P) and HCCO + O(3P) reactions. The vibrational distribution of CO(v) from the HCCO + O(3P) reaction also shows its own bimodal shape. The vibrational distribution of CO(v) from C2H2 + O(3P) can be characterized by a Boltzmann plot with a vibrational temperature of approximately 2400 +/- 100 K, in agreement with previous results. The CO distribution from the HCCO + O(3P) reaction, when studied under conditions to minimize other processes, shows very little contamination from other reactions, and the distribution can be characterized by a linear combination of Boltzmann plots with two vibrational temperatures: 2320 +/- 40 and 10 300 +/- 600 K. From the experimental results and previous theoretical work, the bimodal CO(v) distribution for the HCCO + O(3P) reaction suggests a sequential dissociation process of the HC(O)CO++ --> CO + HCO; HCO --> H + CO.