THE PYROLYSIS OF TOLUENE

Abstract

The pyrolysis of toluene has been studied in a flow system from 913 to 1143 °K. First-order rate constants are independent of the toluene concentration but decrease approximately 9% when the contact time is reduced from 1.0 to 0.41 second. Increasing the contact time from 1.0 second to 2.07 seconds does not affect the rate constant. The overall rate has been resolved into homogeneous and heterogeneous components. It is suggested that the activation energy of the homogeneous process, 85 kcal/mole, may be associated with D(C 6 H 5 CH 2 —H).