Slow oxidations at high pressures I—Methane and ethane, II—Methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, acetaldehyde, and acetic acid

Abstract

In two recent papers from these laboratories it was shown that when methane- and ethane-oxygen mixtures containing excess of the hydrocarbon react at high pressure various liquid products can be isolated. For methane-oxygen mixtures methyl alcohol and water are found, and for ethane-oxygen mixtures ethyl alcohol, acetaldehyde, methyl alcohol, acetic acid, formic acid, and water. These products being important for the light they throw on the mechanism of hydrocarbon combustion and because they suggest means for using waste hydrocarbon gases, further experiments have now been made with the object of finding the order of their formation and the optimum condition for their survival.