THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF C-10-C-14 NORMAL-ALKANES IN NEAR-CRITICAL AND SUPERCRITICAL REGIONS - PRODUCT DISTRIBUTIONS AND REACTION-MECHANISMS

Thermal decomposition of C-10-C-14 n-alkanes was studied under near-cr itical and supercritical conditions. The primary products were C-1-C-m -2 n-alkanes and C-2-C-m-1 1-alkenes, and the secondary products were cis- and trans-2-alkenes, n-C-m-1, n-C-m+1, and C-m+2-C-2m-2 normal an d branched alkanes, where m is the number of carbon atoms in the react ant. The relative yields of the primary and secondary products were de pendent upon the reaction conditions. Product distributions exhibited large pressure dependence in the near-critical region. The observed pr oduct distributions and changes in product composition with reaction c onditions were explained by a modified free radical mechanism.