Shock Induced Reactions of Methane with Nitrous and Nitric Oxides

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Reflected shock waves, generated in a 5×3 inch shock tube, have been used to ignite mixtures of methane-nitrous oxide and methane-nitric oxide. Monochromators, a pressure transducer and an oscilloscope were used to determine the induction period to ignition (τ) after the reflected wave passed the window. A flash lamp and spectrograph were also used to obtain spectra before and after explosion. For CH4-N2O mixtures it was found that the plot of log(τ[N2O]p5) against inverse temperature was linear and the activation energy was about 60 kcal/mol. This indicates that the rate controlling process was the reaction N2O(+M)→N2+O(+M). However, the reaction CH3+N2O→CH2+N2+OH may also be important. The results for CH4-NO mixtures could be expressed by log(τ[NO]p5)=−10.2+49000⁄4.58T which suggests to the reaction CH2+NO→CH+HNO may be rate controlling. Spectrographic plates showed that CN and OH were present during the induction period but only OH was detected after explosion. This indicates that the reactions CH+NO→CN+OH and CN+NO→N2+CO may be a significant mechanism for achieving the reduction of nitric oxide.

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: