Kinetics and mechanisms of the thermal decomposition of propane II. The reaction inhibited by nitric oxide

The kinetics of the pyrolysis of propane inhibited by nitric oxide were investigated from 640 to 560 $^\circ$C and at partial pressures of propane from 25 to 550 mm Hg. The pressure-time curves were found to be S-shaped, and the induction period was lengthened considerably as the propane pressure was lowered. Complete inhibition by nitric oxide was obtained with 10 to 12% nitric oxide. The initial rates were found to be proportional to the $\frac{3}{2}$ power of the pressure over most of the temperature range, and to a slightly lower power at the highest temperatures. The orders of reaction corresponding to the inflexion point are close to unity at the highest temperatures, and increase steadily as the temperature is lowered. The activation energy calculated from the inflexion rates in the first-order region was 69.4 kcal/mole. The rates decreased with an increase in the surface to volume ratio. The addition of a large excess of carbon dioxide had no effect on the fully inhibited rates. The results are shown to be consistent with a mechanism in which the initiation reaction involves the abstraction of a hydrogen atom from propane by nitric oxide, and in which the termination reaction is between HNO and a propyl radical.