Experimental and kinetic study on the low temperature oxidation and pyrolysis of formic acid in a jet-stirred reactor

A comprehensive experimental and kinetic study on the low temperature oxidation and pyrolysis of formic acid was conducted. Species profiles measurements were performed in a jet-stirred reactor (JSR) at the temperature range of 600-1100 K under atmospheric pressure, with a fixed residence time of 2.0 s and for the equivalence ratios ranging from 0.5 to infinity (pyrolysis). High-level quantum calculation was used to obtain the accurate rate coefficients of missing reactions in Glarborg model. A detailed kinetic mechanism, derived from Glarborg model, has been developed based on high-level quantum calculation and validated with the species profiles obtained in this work and laminar flame speeds presented in our group. Reaction pathway and sensitivity analysis were investigated to get the deep insight of the oxidation of formic acid via the modified model. The results showed that unimolecular fuel decomposition reactions dominated the pyrolysis process while H abstraction reactions with the further consumption of the radicals are more important in the oxidation of formic acid. In addition, H abstraction reactions via HO2 become important at relatively low temperature. (C) 2020 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study found that unimolecular fuel decomposition reactions dominate the pyrolysis process of formic acid, while H abstraction reactions with the further consumption of radicals are more important in the oxidation of formic acid. Additionally, H abstraction reactions via HO2 become important at relatively low temperature.