Thermal decomposition of dichlorobenzene in an atmosphere of hydrogen and helium

Author

Mingta Hung, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

8-31-1987

Degree Name

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

First Advisor

Joseph W. Bozzelli

Second Advisor

Richard B. Trattner

Third Advisor

Arthur B. Ritter

Abstract

Reactions of dilute mixtures of dichlorobenzene in hydrogen and in helium were studied in a tubular reactor at a pressure of 1 atm, residence times of 0.04 to 2.7 seconds, and temperature range of 825 to 1000° C. Product distributions at various reaction conditions are measured with a flame ionization detector gas chromatograph, and qualitative analysis of batch samples was also performed by GC/Mass Spectrometry. The major products were observed as the thermodynamically stable species, HC1, Cis), benzene and chlorobenzene. Thermal reaction in helium at 1 second residence time in 1.05 cm ID reactor yielded less benzene and chlorobenzene when compared to the same conditions in hydrogen atmosphere. Complete destruction of all chlorinated species occurs at about 1000°C for an average residence time of 0.79 second in hydrogen.

The reaction kinetics was analyzed using the plug flow model. An increase in the diameter of the reactor was found to accelerate the decomposition of dichlorobenzene in hydrogen atmosphere. The wall and bulk reaction rate constants were decoupled via analysis of data from three reactors having different surface to volume ratios. Separate rate constants expressions for bulk and wall reaction were shown as following equations:

kb = 1.8x10¹³ Exp (-69,000/RT) (1/sec)

kw = 1.52x10¹⁷Exp (-99,000/RT) (cm/sec)

Recommended Citation

Hung, Mingta, "Thermal decomposition of dichlorobenzene in an atmosphere of hydrogen and helium" (1987). Theses. 3115.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3115