THE VAPOR PHASE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF n-BUTANE—EFFECT OF PRESSURE, REACTION TIME, AND INLET GAS COMPOSITION

Data are presented on the product yields and the general course of the partial oxidation of n-butane at an ambient temperature of 725 °F., at pressures ranging from 50 to 175 p.s.i.a., reaction times of 1.0 to 4.5 sec., and inlet reactant compositions of 1.5 to 6.0 mole % n-butane and 1.5 to 6.0 mole % oxygen (the remainder being diluent nitrogen). Conditions were neither isothermal nor adiabatic and peak temperatures as much as 70 Fahrenheit degrees higher than the inlet temperatures were encountered. The reactor consisted of a 24-ft. length of 1/4-in. stainless steel pipe, immersed in a bath of boiling Aroclor 1254. Under optimum conditions, a 20% conversion of the butane to methanol, ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetone, and formaldehyde was obtained. In all the tests, an induction period of approximately 0.75 sec. was observed.