Quantum-Chemical Kinetic Study of the Unimolecular Decomposition Reactions of 1-Bromo-3-Chloropropane

The pressure and temperature dependence of the thermal decomposition of 1-bromo-3-chloropropane has been theoretically investigated. The reaction takes place majorly through the elimination of HBr. Molecular properties of 1-bromo-3-chloropropane and transition states were derived from MN15/6-311++G(3df,3pd) and G4 quantum-chemical calculations. The resulting rate constants obtained from the unimolecular reaction rate theory for the high- and low-pressure limits of reaction BrCH₂CH₂CH₂Cl → CH₂CHCH₂Cl + HBr at 400-1000 K were k_∞ = 6.1 × 10¹³ exp(-57.2 kcal mol^-1/RT) s^-1 and k₀ = [BrCH₂CH₂CH₂Cl] 1.45 × 10^-1 (T/1000 K)^-7.9 exp(-55.9 kcal mol^-1/RT) cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1. A value of -26.3 ± 1.0 kcal mol^-1 for the standard enthalpy of formation of 1-bromo-3-chloropropane at 298 K was derived.

Fuel production from waste polystyrene via pyrolysis: Kinetics and products distribution

In the present study polystyrene waste (PS) was collected from a drop off site in a local market and pyrolyzed at heating rates of 5, 10, 15 and 20 °C/min and temperature range 40-600 °C under nitrogen condition. The apparent activation energy (Ea) and pre-exponential factor (A) were determined using 6 different kinetic methods. Activation energy and pre-exponential factor were found in the range of 82.3 - 202.8 kJmol^-1 and 3.5 × 10⁶-7.6 × 10¹⁴ min^-1 respectively. The results demonstrated that the calculated values of Ea and A vary with fraction of conversion, heating rates and the applied model. Moreover, pyrolysis of waste polystyrene was carried out in an indigenously manufactured furnace at temperatures ranging from 340 to 420 °C. The composition of liquid and gaseous fractions was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Temperature and reaction time were optimized and the results revealed that temperature of 410 °C and exposure time of 70 min are the best conditions for maximum fuel oil production. Methane and ethane were found as the main products in the gas phase constituting about 82% of the gaseous fraction. The liquid products composed of broad range of C₂ - C₁₅ hydrocarbons depending on the pyrolytic parameters. A comparison of the composition of pyrolysis oil with standard parameters of diesel, gasoline and kerosene oil suggested that pyrolysis oil from polystyrene waste holds great promise for replacing fuel oil.

Thermal Decomposition of 3-Bromopropene. A Theoretical Kinetic Investigation

A detailed kinetic study of the gas-phase thermal decomposition of 3-bromopropene over wide temperature and pressure ranges was performed. Quantum chemical calculations employing the density functional theory methods B3LYP, BMK, and M06-2X and the CBS-QB3 and G4 ab initio composite models provide the relevant part of the potential energy surfaces and the molecular properties of the species involved in the CH2═CH-CH2Br → CH2═C═CH2 + HBr (1) and CH2═CH-CH2Br → CH2═CH-CH2 + Br (2) reaction channels. Transition-state theory and unimolecular reaction rate theory calculations show that the simple bond fission reaction ( 2 ) is the predominant decomposition channel and that all reported experimental studies are very close to the high-pressure limit of this process. Over the 500-1400 K range a rate constant for the primary dissociation of k2,∞ = 4.8 × 10(14) exp(-55.0 kcal mol(-1)/RT) s(-1) is predicted at the G4 level. The calculated k1,∞ values lie between 50 to 260 times smaller. A value of 10.6 ± 1.5 kcal mol(-1) for the standard enthalpy of formation of 3-bromopropene at 298 K was estimated from G4 thermochemical calculations.