ELECTRODELESS GLOW DISCHARGE REACTIONS OF HYDROCARBONS AND NITRIC OXIDE.
Abstract
The microwave glow discharge reactions of ethane and ethylene yield the same products in nearly the same proportions. The solids are polyaromatics, probably polyacetylene. The solids contain no unusually energetic species and show only moderate thermal stability. The main gaseous products are ethylene and acetylene. Mixtures of nitric oxide and ethane low in nitric oxide produce a mixture of complex solids and some gas. Greater proportions of nitric oxide produce only simple, gaseous products. These gases change in nature as the nitric oxide proportion of the reactants increases. An indication that ethylene can be a better free radical scavenger than nitric oxide is found. Ethane-NO reactions produce very little nitroalkane and then only with high proportions of nitric oxide. A tesla coil replacing the microwave source does not change the results of a reaction. Also, the work with ethane and ethylene produces results like those for electrode glow reactions. The reactions of the glow reactions are similar to those for photolytic reactions, especially for NO alone. This study of a 2-component glow reaction with differing proportions of the components leads to a general mechanism for the reactions. Implicit in the mechanism is the idea that glow reactions of systems of high carbon content yield complex organic materials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0481422
Entities
People
- Richard S. Tunder
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation