The thermal decomposition of n-hexane

The kinetics of the pyrolysis of n‐hexane was studied in a conventional static reactor over a temperature range of 650–840 K. The overall reaction is essentially first order with the kinetic parameters A = 1013.92 s−1 and EA = 260.3 kJ/mol. The distributions of the main products were analyzed by gas chromatography. A reaction model involving 240 elementary reactions was developed to describe the experimental rate data. The agreement of the model with experimental data was surprisingly good over a wide range of temperatures and pressures and up to medium extents of conversion. Methods for sensitivity studies based upon the quasi‐stationary‐state assumption (QSSA) were developed, and for a number of more detailed effects, such as self‐inhibition, explanations could be given. It was also shown that the hexyl isomerization reactions influence strongly the product distribution. The outstanding capability of kinetic modeling with computer simulations in handling complex kinetic systems is demonstrated.