Thermal cracking of coal model diaryl ethers in aromatic solvent

Abstract

Thermal cracking of nine diaryl ethers in a hydrogen donor solvent or 1-methylnaphthalene was studied kinetically. The rate of conversion of the diaryl ethers was first order with respect to the substrate concentration and increased with increase in size of the aryl structure. The relative rate constant of aryloxygen bond cleavage calculated on the basis of first order reaction has indicated that the ease of cracking depends strongly on the aromatic structure and the position of substitution. The conversion rate of 2, 2′-dinaphthyl ether was remarkably enhanced in the presence of hydrogen donor solvent, for example by a factor of ten in the presence of 9, 10-dihydroanthracene. The activation energy of thermal conversion of 2, 2′-dinaphthyl ether was 214 kJ/mole in methylnaphthalene, 151 kJ/mole in tetralin and 88 kJ/mole in dihydroanthracene. The enhancing effect of the hydrogen donor was considered due to hydrogen transfer to the aromatic nucleus of the diaryl ether from the hydrogen donor and successive fast decomposition of hydrogenated ethers.