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The Decomposition of Methane, Ethane, Ethylene and n‐Butane in Electrical Discharges of Moderate Pressures
Author(s) -
Capezzuto P.,
Cramarossa F.,
D'agostino R.,
Molinari E.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
beiträge aus der plasmaphysik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.531
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1521-3986
pISSN - 0005-8025
DOI - 10.1002/ctpp.19770170402
Subject(s) - methane , decomposition , butane , ethylene , chemistry , torr , hydrocarbon , analytical chemistry (journal) , volumetric flow rate , excited state , reaction rate constant , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , kinetics , atomic physics , catalysis , physics , quantum mechanics
The decomposition of CH 4 , C 2 H 6 , C 2 H 4 , and n‐C 4 H 10 has been investigated in radiofrequency plasmas operated at power levels of 1–8 cal cm −3 sec −1 , 10–40 torr and flow rates of the hydrocarbons between 2 and 20 1 (STP) min −1 . It is shown that values of the rate constants are very close for all the hydrocarbons investigated and several orders of magnitude greater than those observed in their pyrolisis at comparable gas temperatures. Energy yields up to 30% can be observed for all hydrocarbons. It is suggested that the rate determining step for the decomposition process of all hydrocarbons investigated involves the rupture of a C‐H bond in vibrotationally excited molecules.