Pyrolysis of toluene using a static system

Abstract

The pyrolysis of toluene was investigated in the temperature range 920–970 K and the effect of hydrogen sensitization was studied at temperatures around 820 K. The unsensitized reaction is autocatalytic and the gaseous products, methane and hydrogen, are formed with different energies of activation (E(H₂)= 74 kcal/mol; E(CH₄)= 89.4 kcal/mol). Hydrogen accelerates the reaction and the overall reaction rate is determined by the relationship d[CH₄]/dt= 10^11.44 exp (–58 800/RT)[H₂][C₆H₅CH₃]^½1. mol^–1 s^–1. The rate k₁ of initiation is given by k₁= 10^15.96 exp(–88 900/RT) s^–1 and an estimate of k₁₂= 10^9.45 exp(–14,500/RT) 1. mol^–1 s^–1 is made of the rate constant for the reaction, C₆H₅CH₂+ H₂= C₆H₅CH₃+ H. (12)