Experimental and Kinetic Analysis of the Thermal Degradation of the Methylethylketone in Methane / Air Flames UMR CNRS 8522 “Physicochimie des Processus de Combustion”.

Abstract

The experimental study of the thermal degradation of methylethylketone (MEK) in flame conditions is undertaken to provide an experimental data base concerning Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) oxidation. The experimental set-up consists of the coupling of microprobe sampling with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Temperature measurements are realized by the coated thermocouple technique. The addition of MEK to a reference methane / air flame induces (1) an enhancement of the C2 and C3 hydrocarbon oxidation pathways which points out the main role of CH3 and C2H5 radicals, and (2) the formation of oxygenated intermediate compounds such aldehydes (CH2O, CH3CHO. CH3CH2CHO), alcohols (CH3OH, CH3CH2OH) and ketones (CH3COCH3, CH3COCHCH2, CH3CH2COCH2CH3, CH3COCH2CH2CH3). The peak mole fraction of these intermediate species increases with the amount of MEK added to the methane / air flame. The experimental results are discussed to point out the kinetic processes involved in the high temperature oxidation of MEK which may contribute to the development of a detailed chemical mechanism.