Detailed kinetic analysis of butanol isomers additions on pyrolysis characteristics of ethylene

Abstract

This study investigated the detailed effects of butanol isomers as fuel additives on the pyrolysis properties of ethylene at wide temperature ranges. The analysis focused on the chemical and dilution effects of butanol isomers on the mole fraction of major pyrolysis products and the formation paths of significant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results demonstrated that the four butanol isomers promoted the production of H2, CO, CH4, and C6H6 under the combination of chemical and dilution effects at any temperature. Butanol isomers inhibited acetylene formation at 1673 K and 2073 K and naphthalene production at 1673 K. N-butanol and 2-butanol produced benzene primarily through the even carbon paths. Meanwhile, iso-butanol and tert-butanol produced benzene primarily through the odd carbon pathways at low temperatures and the even carbon pathways at high temperatures. Naphthalene was primarily derived from benzene and phenyl at each temperature. The dilution effect of butanol isomers was the dominant effect on soot reduction, while the chemical effect promoted soot formation. Tert-butanol presented the highest propensity for soot formation.