The effects of various porphyrin species on the decomposition and hyerogenation of hydrocarbons

Carnell, Ian Daryl (1990). The effects of various porphyrin species on the decomposition and hyerogenation of hydrocarbons. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

A tubular reactor was designed and constructed in order that the decomposition of hydrocarbon gases and vapours could be studied. Product distributions and kinetic data obtained from the cracking of n-butane agreed with the values available in the literature. Prom these results a reaction mechanism for the thermal decomposition of n-butane was proposed.

The cracking of 2,2-dimethylbutane was investigated and a reaction mechanism postulated following the acquisition of product spectra and the calculation of kinetic data. This mechanism differed from others found in the literature.

Base etioporphyrin was synthesised by two unrelated routes. A concentrate containing approximately two per cent petroporphyrins was isolated from Tia Juana Pesado topped crude.

After demonstrating that porphyrins are thermally stable up to a temperature of 5^0 G the effects of nine different porphyrin species towards the cracking of 2,2-dimethylbutane were examined. All nine were shown to act as cracking catalysts. Following consideration of the product distributions and kinetic data obtained from the study of porphyrin catalysis a reaction mechanism has been proposed. This is based on increasing the rate of homolytic bond cleavage.

Porphyrins were shown to catalyse the decomposition of 1-hexene over the temperature range 325 to 450°C. At a temperature of 150°C three porphyrins catalysed the hydrogenation of 1-hexene.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

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