Investigations of restricted mass transport effects on hydrocarbon pyrolysis mechanisms through silica immobilization

In the pyrolysis of polymers and other macromolecular systems including coa l, kerogen, lignin, and cellulose, the importance of mass transport in affe cting pyrolysis kinetics, tar and char yields, and product molecular weight distribution is becoming increasingly appreciated. However, detailed molec ular level information on the effects of restricted mass transport on the r eaction mechanisms for organic constituents in these complex organic materi als is understandably more limited. Well-designed, experimental studies of the pyrolysis of model compounds and polymers are capable of providing such insights. In this paper, research employing silica-immobilized compounds i s reviewed and selected examples from other types of model systems that exp lore mass transport effects are presented. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier S cience B.V.