The photochemical oxidation of formaldehyde in the gaseous phase

• Main Author: Sharp, James Harry
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2012
• Subjects: Photochemistry.; Formaldehyde.
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/40738

The object of this work was the investigation of the photochemical oxidation of formaldehyde in the gaseous phase at 110°C. Reaction mixtures, where the O2: CH₂O ratio was approximately 1:10, were irradiated with ultra violet light at a wavelength of 3130A⁰ and the reaction products analyzed. The major products were found to be CO, H₂ and HCOOH. CO₂ was a minor product. No peroxides were found and the reaction was oxygen independent at low O₂:CH₂O ratios. The formation of the major products was found to be directly proportional to the initial formaldehyde pressure and to the intensity of the absorbed light. A satisfactory mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of the reaction products, and the following kinetic equations were derived: [formula omitted] === Science, Faculty of === Chemistry, Department of === Graduate