Investigation of the Reaction of 1-Butanol with Hydrogen Atoms by a Discharge Flow Technique

Abstract

The reaction of 1-butanol with hydrogen atoms has been investigated at the temperature ranging from 323 to 523 K, under 133 Pa, using a conventional discharge flow apparatus. Butanal, methanol, 1-butene, propylene and propane were mainly produced. S m all amounts of ethanol, 2-butenes, ethylene, ethane, methane and carbon monoxide were also detected (Table 1 and Fig.1). Relative amounts of butanal and 1-butene decreased as the con version of 1-butanol increased, while those of propylene, propane and ethylene were observed to increase at 323 K (Fig.2). Under the conditions of lower conversions, the selectivity of butanal decreased, and that of hydrocarbons increased at higher temperatures, while those of methanol and ethanol did not change significantly (Fig.3). Methanol, ethanol and 1-butene were not detected in the products obtained from the reaction of butanal with hydrogen atoms, which were operated under the similar conditions of 1-butanol + hydrogen atoms reaction system (Fig.4). This result suggests that butanal, methanol, ethanol and 1-butene are the primary products from the reaction of 1-butanol with hydrogen atoms. The effect of the conversion of 1-butanol on the selectivity of the reaction prod ucts were discussed based on abstraction and/or addition mechanisms of hydrogen atoms: It is suggested that the title reaction is initiated by the abstraction of hydrogen atom at a-position from OH group of 1-butanol, followed by a series of consecutive reactions of the initially produced radical with hydrogen atoms and/or 1-butanol.