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NOX FORMATION IN CO FLAMES
Citation:
Merryman, E. AND A. Levy. NOX FORMATION IN CO FLAMES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-77/008c.
Description:
The report gives results of an experimental study to determine if early NO and NO2 can be observed in CO flames, since prompt NO is not anticipated and since HO2 levels might be expected to be lower in CO flames. (Previous studies of NO and NO2 production in methane flames with and without fuel nitrogen suggested that the early appearance of NO2 results from the fast reaction of NO + HO2 = NO2 + OH.) CO flames containing NO, ammonia, and cyanogen were profiled for NO and NO2 in this study. Effects of flame temperature and of nitrogen- and argon- 'air' were also examined. The results give evidence for prompt NO in CO flames as well as for early NO2. The prompt NO and early NO2 levels are less than in methane flames, but the same mechanism appears to explain the formation of NO2 in both flame systems. In most instances, the quantity of NO or fuel-nitrogen added to the flames can be accounted for as NO, NO2, and an unidentified nitrogen species. Analysis of the rates of depletion of ammonia and cyanogen in the CO flames yields Arrhenius coefficients equivalent to 58 and 41 kcal/mole, respectively.