A STUDY OF THE IONIZATION PRODUCED BY THE CATALYTIC COMBUSTION OF HYDROCARBONS.
Abstract
Ionization produced during the catalytic combustion of hydrocarbons was studied for its usefulness in applications such as chromatographic detection. When a platinum filament is heated above 500C in an atmosphere containing the hydrocarbon, the formation of ions takes place during oxidation of the compound. The number of ions produced by the hydrocarbons is an exceedingly small fraction of the number of carbon atoms oxidized and varies widely depending upon the molecular structure of the hydrocarbon and the catalyst temperature. Branched hydrocarbons produce greater ionization than straight-chain compounds, although the ease of oxidation is opposite. Hydrogen and carbon monoxide burned in the combustion cell exhibit no ionization current, even when completely oxidized. Because of the marked effect of molecular structure on ionization and the repsonse of the method to low concentrations of hydrocarbons in air, the procedure may find future use as a specific detector in gas chromatography. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0623014
Entities
People
- F. J. Woods
- J. E. Johnson
- M. E. Umstead
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory