Shock-tube and modeling study of ethyl methyl ether pyrolysis and oxidation

Pyrolysis and oxidation of ethyl methyl ether (EME) were studied behind reflected shock waves in the temperature range 900–1750 K at total pressures between 0.9 and 3.1 atm. The study was carried out using following methods, (1) time-resolved IR-laser absorption at 3.39 μm for EME decay and CH-compound formation rates, (2) time-resolved UV absorption at 216 nm for mainly CH3 radical formation rate, (3) time-resolved UV absorption at 306.7 nm for OH radical formation rate, (4) time-resolved IR emission at 4.24 μm for CO2 formation rate and (5) a single-pulse technique for product yields. The pyrolysis and oxidation of EME were modeled using a reaction mechanism including the sub-mechanisms for methane, acetylene, ethylene, ethane, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and ketene oxidation. The reaction mechanism used in this study could reproduce almost all of experimental results. The sub-mechanisms of methane, ethylene, ethane, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde were found to play an important role in EME oxidation.