The role of dimethyl ether as substituent to ethylene on particulate formation in premixed and counter-flow diffusion flames

In the pyrolysis region of counter-flow diffusion flames, the formation of aromatic small precursors and soot particles is increased for small DME percentages, up to 20%. Then, the precursors are suppressed for larger amounts, going below the detection limit when 60% of DME is used. This suggests that DME can enhance the production of radicals and small reactive molecules in the pyrolytic side when it is added in small concentrations. For larger amounts of DME, oxidative pathways prevail and the conversion of carbon to precursors and then to soot is inhibited. In the oxidative region DME starts to effectively decrease the particle reduction also for amounts as small as 10-15%.