Autocatalysis and Aryl-Alkyl Bond Cleavage in 1-Dodecylpyrene Pyrolysis

Phillip E. Savage, Garry E. Jacobs, Minoo Javanmardian

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44 Scopus citations

Abstract

1-Dodecylpyrene (DDP) pyrolysis at 375–425 °C for 10–180 min led to 1-methylpyrene, 1-undecene, 1-ethylpyrene, and n-decane as the major products at low conversions. At higher conversions, pyrene and n-dodecane were the major products. Minor products included a series of n-alkanes, a-olefins, and alkyl-substituted pyrenes. The variations of the products' molar yields with substrate conversion suggested that the reaction pathways operative at low DDP conversions were analogous to those observed in alkylbenzene pyrolysis. However, a different pathway involving facile and apparently autocatalytic cleavage of the strong aryl—alkyl C-C bond was dominant at moderate and high DDP conversions. The kinetics of DDP disappearance were also consistent with autocatalytic decomposition. The present results suggest that thermal cleavage of aryl-alkyl C-C bonds in heavy hydrocarbon resources such as petroleum residua, asphaltenes, and coal might be more prevalent than previously thought.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)645-654
Number of pages10
JournalIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Volume28
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 1989

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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