RAMAN-SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE THERMAL AND CATALYTIC DECOMPOSITION OF BUTANE

The products of the thermal decomposition of butane at temperatures up to 600 degrees C were identified by Raman spectroscopy. Heating to 50 0 degrees C resulted in tbe formation of a number of hydrocarbon produ cts, in accordance with established reaction mechanisms. Heating to 60 0 degrees C, however however, led to methane as the sole product. By c ontrast, heating in the presence of either Al2O3 or Pt-Al2O3 yielded a different product distribution, attributed to interaction with Lewis acid sites on the Al2O3 surface. The Raman results were compared with data obtained by GC analysis.