Catalytic oxidation of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine on Pt/SiO2

Specific features of oxidation of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine on a Pt-containing catalyst were studied. The temperature dependence of the unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine conversion was determined, and the main intermediate and final reaction products were identified. Platinum behaves in the process as a multifunctional catalyst participating in dehydrogenation, hydrogenolysis, and oxidation. A new method was suggested for detecting unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine in air. It consists in catalytic conversion of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine and detection of the nitrogen dioxide formed with semiconductor gas sensors. The method was successfully used for detecting unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine in air at concentrations in the range 0.1–10 mg m –3 .