QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF COMBUSTION PRODUCTS BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY: THE OXIDATION OF A RICH n-PENTANE–AIR MIXTURE IN A FLOW SYSTEM

Abstract

A description is given of an apparatus suitable for investigations of the oxidation and decomposition reactions of volatile hydrocarbon vapors in a flow system. Most of the reaction products are analyzed quantitatively by gas chromatography in a single-stage process involving a simple column-temperature programming technique. The products of the oxidation of a rich mixture of n-pentane and air in an annular reactor of Vycor over a wide temperature range are shown in detailed analysis. The products, as identified by several techniques including time-of-flight mass spectrometry and infrared spectrophotometry, include C2—C5 mono-olefins, two di-olefins, C1—C4 saturated aldehydes, an unsaturated aldehyde, and 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran in addition to those usually associated with the complete oxidation of n-pentane.