RADIATION EFFECT ON THE THERMAL-CRACKING OF N-HEXADECANE .1. PRODUCTSFROM RADIATION-THERMAL CRACKING

In order to examine the applicability of radiation technology to hydro carbon processing, radiation-thermal cracking of n-hexadecane was carr ied out in the liquid and gas phases by introducing cobalt-60 gamma-ra diation in the temperature range of 300-400 degrees C. The cracking pr ocess was observed to be significantly enhanced in both phases. For ex ample, it was about 100 times faster under a dose rate of around 500 G y/h at 330 degrees C in the gas phase. The observed product pattern fo r radiation-thermal cracking was the same as that for pure thermal cra cking, only dependent on the phase. Similar to pure thermal cracking, addition products and larger yields of alkanes were observed in the li quid phase, whereas no addition products but larger yields of alkenes were observed in the gas phase. In addition, a large evolution of H-2 due to C-H dissociation by radiation was observed.