Pyrolysis and Spectroscopy of Cyclic Aromatic Combustion Intermediates
Author | |
Abstract |
<p>We have studied the pyrolysis of aromatic combustion intermediates using\ <span style="line-height: 1.6em;">an array of detection techniques. The molecules investigated include cyclic\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">aromatic molecules with hydrocarbon substituents (ethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene,\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">isopropylbenzene, and styrene), oxygen-containing substituents\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">(anisole and phenol), triply substituted systems (vanillin), resonance stabilized\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">radicals (benzyl radical and tropyl radical) and phenyl radical. At the exit of a\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">resistively heated micro-reactor (1 mm inner diameter, 3 cm long), the pyrolysis\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">fragments are detected using photoionization mass spectrometry (PIMS), matrix\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">isolation vibrational spectroscopy, microwave spectroscopy, tunable VUV\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">synchrotron-based PIMS, and table-top VUV PIMS with photoelectron photoion\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">coincidence spectroscopy (PEPICO). This array of detection methods allows for the\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">identification of all possible fragments including metastables, radicals, and atoms.\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">The findings allow for detailed mechanistic information regarding which pathways\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">are active at different pyrolysis temperatures. The findings can also be used to help\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">identify products and individual isomers that are formed during the gas-phase\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">thermal decomposition of aromatic systems. By providing direct experimental\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">pyrolysis data, models for fuel decomposition and soot formation can be improved\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">to help understand current combustion systems and eventually aid in the design of\ </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">superior fuel sources in the near future.</span></p>
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Year of Publication |
2016
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Degree |
Ph.D.
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Number of Pages |
346
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Date Published |
04-2016
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University |
University of Colorado Boulder
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City |
Boulder, CO
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Advisors - Other |
G. Barney Ellison
Veronica M. Bierbaum
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Publication Status |