Degradation of methanol and methylamines to carbon over heated alloy surfaces

Methanol and methylamines, especially trimethylamine, can be degraded over alloy surfaces to generate byproducts and carbon deposits. The activity of various metal alloys for the degradation of methanol and methylamines to ca rbon has been investigated. Inconel 600, a high-Ni alloy, was found to be t he most active for these degradation reactions, the cold-worked turnings yi elding carbon from methanol/ammonia at 380 degreesC and from trimethyiamine /ammonia at 430 degreesC. All of the other alloys tested were resistant to bulk carbon deposition from methanol/ammonia, but some of them caused bulk carbon deposition from TMA/ammonia at temperatures in the range 450-490 deg reesC.