Abstract
To clarify the behavior of soot within a diffusion flame, measurements of soot, its precursors and oxidant were carried out. Laser spectroscopy was applied to obtain a fuel, PAHs, soot and OH concentration distribution in the propane diffusion flame, and carbon nanostructure of soot such as crystallite size and amorphous carbon content was also investigated. Obtained results suggest that formation and growth of PAHs arise from chemical reactions beginning with pyrolysis of fuel, and then inception of soot particles occurs by coagulation of grown PAHs. OH was distributed around the outer edge of the flame, and was oxidizing the soot particles. Furthermore, the soot underwent a change in the nanostructure within the flame.
