Étude chimique et cinétique de l'oxydation homogène en phase gazeuse d'alcanes légers. I. Isobutane

Abstract

A literature survey on the homogeneous gas-phase oxidation of light alkanes shows that despite a rather high number of papers there are still, even in the case of isobutane, an important number of unresolved questions, which makes the writing of a reaction scheme rather difficult. To obtain more reliable experimental data, we have studied the homogeneous gas-phase oxidation of isobutane in a conventional static system, at 310 and 340 °C and subatmospheric pressure. This investigation is chiefly aimed at identifying and measuring the major primary products of the reaction. A chain radical scheme based on the primary products and on estimation of the rate constants of the elementary steps by the methods of Thermochemical Kinetics is put forward to interpret our experimental results. Two major reaction routes appear, one corresponding to the formation of isobutene and the other to the formation of isobutene oxide. The conclusions of the present investigation and suggestions for further developments are also mentioned. Keywords: oxidation, chemical kinetics, reaction mechanism, isobutane.