Thermochemical and Kinetic Investigation of Pentanol Oxidation Initiated by Hydrogen, Methyl, Hydroxyl, and Hydroperoxyl Radicals

J Phys Chem A. 2024 Oct 17;128(41):8996-9014. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpca.4c03493. Epub 2024 Oct 3.

Abstract

n-Pentanol is acknowledged as a prospective alternative and a supplement to traditional fossil fuels. H-abstraction reaction assumes a pivotal role in initiating the chain reaction during n-pentanol combustion. To investigate the oxidation characteristics of n-pentanol, the composite quantum chemical methods CBS-QB3 and G4 are employed to obtain thermochemical and kinetic parameters in the H-abstraction reaction of n-pentanol. The calculated isobaric heat capacity provides accurate predictions of the experimental results. Branching ratios underscore that H-abstraction at the Cα site serves as the primary channel between n-pentanol and Ḣ/ĊH3/ȮH2. For the reaction between n-pentanol and ȮH, the Cβ site emerges as the most favorable channel due to the significant variational effect. The overall rate coefficient for H-abstraction from n-pentanol by ȮH radicals is expressed as k = 3565.11 × T2.93 exp (1465.44/T) (cm3 mol-1 s-1), and the data obtained at the CBS-QB3 level demonstrate good agreement with experimental observations. Furthermore, the original model is modified based on current results, and the improved model demonstrates superior predictive capabilities for jet-stirred reactor (JSR) data and ignition delay times. Reaction path and sensitivity analyses are employed to identify fuel consumption pathways and critical reactions in the combustion of n-pentanol.