MODEL EXPERIMENTS OF AUTOXIDATION REACTION FOULING .1. MECHANISMS

The mechanism of autoxidation reaction fouling was studied using model solutions of an active alkene, indene, in two inert solvents. Fouling was caused by the formation of insoluble polyperoxide gums and was co ntrolled by the bulk chemical reaction in the recirculating system. On ce the gums adhered to the surface they aged to form complex, oxygenat ed solids. The deposition mechanism was determined by the solubility o f the polyperoxides in the solvent; an initial, linear fouling rate as sociated with the reaction of soluble gums in the thermal boundary lay er was followed by an accelerating rate as insoluble agglomerates were deposited once the solubility limit of the polyperoxides was reached. The chemical mechanism was studied in separate batch reactions and si gnificant solvent nature effects were found.