Gasification of spent alkylation sulfuric acid droplets in hot environments

Experimental results on gasification behaviors of freely-falling spent alky lation sulfuric acid droplets in high-temperature environments are presente d, as well as baseline data on evaporation of water droplets and sulfuric a cid droplets. Low evaporation constants have been measured for sulfuric aci d droplets and spent acid droplets (relative to water droplets). Shape dist ortions and fragmentation (microexplosions) of spent acid droplets were als o observed, and it has been found that initial droplet diameters are import ant in determining onset times and intensities of microexplosive behaviors. Simplified theory is developed, which suggests that the droplet distortion and fragmentation behaviors may be a result of SO2 bubble formation inside the droplets.