Thermal decomposition of barium valerate in argon

• The thermal decomposition of Barium valerate has been studied in Ar.
• The compound melts in two steps prior to decomposition.
• Solidification during decomposition results in stochastic gas release and mass loss.
• 5-nonanone and CO2 are the main evolving gas species.

The thermal decomposition of barium valerate (Ba(C4H9CO2)2/Ba-pentanoate) was studied in argon by means of thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, IR-spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and hot-stage optical microscopy. Melting takes place in two different steps, at 200 °C and 280 °C and evidence was found for the solidification of the melt at 380–440 °C, i.e. simultaneously with the onset of decomposition. Between 400 °C and 520 °C (Ba(C4H9CO2)2 decomposes in two main steps, first into BaCO3 with release of C4H9COC4H9 (5-nonanone), whereas final conversion to BaO takes place with release of CO2. Elemental carbon that is left as a by-product is finally slowly burned by the residual oxygen present in the Ar atmosphere.