Kinetics of radical reactions in sodium diffusion flames

Abstract

The primary reaction in sodium diffusion flames, Na + RX = NaX + R, has been investigated as a possible source of free radicals for kinetic studies. A number of different alkyl halides were investigated as possible radical sources. Optimum conditions were found to minimize wall reactions and hydrogen abstraction from the halide, the two factors which invalidated previous work using this method. Rate constants were derived from product analyses by the numerical solution of simultaneous non-linear differential equations based on a spherical model involving diffusion. Values were obtained for the two modes of decomposition of n-C3H7, the abstraction of primary and secondary H atoms from C3H8 by CH3, and the addition of CH3 to C2H4. These are in reasonably good agreement with values determined by more conventional methods.