THE THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF ETHANE: PART I. INITIATION AND TERMINATION STEPS

Abstract

The rates of production of methane and butane in the pyrolysis of ethane have been measured over the temperature range 550–620 °C and at pressures of 40–600 mm. At high pressure the rates of formation of both products were first order in ethane, but below 200 mm the first-order rate coefficients decreased. The ratio of methane to butane was consistent with the interpretation that methane is a measure of the initiation reaction and that the combination and disproportionation of ethyl radicals is the main termination step. The order of the decomposition of the ethyl radical with respect to ethane varied between 0.38 and 0.59. The results are discussed in terms of the mechanism of the overall process.