Kinetics of thermal decomposition of sulfur-containing amino acids

Abstract

Rates of thermal decomposition of sulfur-containing amino acids such as D,L-methionine, L-cysteine, and L-cystine are studied. It is established that the amino acids decompose at 190–240°C to give the gaseous and liquid decomposition products in the polyphasic system formed. The rate of summary process is described by the first order kinetic equation up to 30–50% conversion. In spite of close values of the effective activation energies of thermal decomposition of D,L-methionine, L-cysteine, and L-cystine (195, 193, and 184 kJ mol−1 respectively) the effective rate constants at one and the the same temperature differ by one or two orders of magnitude in the above-mentioned series. Sulfur-containing compounds prevail in the gaseous decomposition products, while in the liquid phase the nitrogen-containing ones are accumulated.