The dependence on temperature of gas-phase photocatalytic oxidation of methyl tert-butyl ether and tert-butyl alcohol

The influence of temperature on the mechanism and kinetics of gas-phase photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) and thermal oxidation (TO) of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) over TiO2 was studied in a continuous flow annular reactor. The reaction products of PCO of both substances included acetone, water, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Volatile TO products of MTBE included 2-methyl-1-propene (2-MP), carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and water; TBA decomposed to 2-MP and water. Thermal oxidation of MTBE became noticeable at 388 K, TBA started to decompose thermally at 393 K. Both PCO and TO fit well to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model for monomolecular reactions. The dependence of the kinetic constants on temperature was established in the form of an Arrhenius equation. The TiO2 catalyst showed no deactivation at temperatures above 373 K but gradually lost its activity below 373 K.