Theoretical kinetics for the decomposition of iso-butanol and related (CH3)2 CH + CH2OH reactions

Chong Wen Zhou, Stephen J. Klippenstein, John M. Simmie, Henry J. Curran

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20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The potential energy surface for the thermal decomposition of iso-butanol has been investigated using high level ab initio electronic structure methods. Temperature and pressure dependent rate coefficients for the three channels with the lower energy barriers, forming (CH3)2 CH + CH 2OH (k1), CH3 CHCH2OH+ CH 3 (k2) and (CH3)2C=CH 2+H2O (k3) were computed with the master equation method employing ab initio transition state theory estimates for the microcanonical rate coefficients. The two radical forming channels were treated with variable-reaction-coordinate transition state theory employing directly sampled CASPT2(2e,2o)/cc-pVDZ orientation dependent interaction energies coupled with one-dimensional basis set and relaxation corrections. The other channel was treated with conventional TST including Eckart tunneling and one-dimensional hindered rotor corrections. For temperatures higher than 1000 K and pressures of 1 Torr or greater, the direct C-C bond fission forming (CH3) 2 CH + CH2OH is dominant, while the formations of CH 3 CHCH2OH + CH3 and (CH3) 2C=CH2+H2O together contribute less than 20%. The bi-molecular recombination of (CH3)2 CH + CH 2OH has also been investigated, with the formation of iso-butanol found to be dominant at high pressure and the production of CH3 CHCH2OH + CH3 favored at low pressure.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)501-509
Number of pages9
JournalProceedings of the Combustion Institute
Volume34
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Ab initio
  • Iso-butanol
  • Thermal decomposition
  • Variable-reaction-coordinate transition state theory

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