Formation of Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals on α-AlO.

Metal oxides exhibit catalytic activity for the formation of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs). Here, we investigate, via first-principles calculations, the activity of alumina α-AlO(0001) surface toward formation of phenolic EPFRs, under conditions relevant to cooling down zones of combustion systems. We show that, molecular adsorption of phenol on α-AlO(0001) entails binding energies in the range of -202 kJ/mol to -127 kJ/mol.

Formation of PCDD/Fs in Oxidation of 2-Chlorophenol on Neat Silica Surface.

This contribution studies partial oxidation of 2-chlorophenol on surfaces of neat silica at temperatures of 250, 350, and 400 °C; i.e., temperatures that frequently lead to catalytic formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) from their precursors.

Theoretical investigation into competing unimolecular reactions encountered in the pyrolysis of acetamide.

Motivated by the necessity to understand the pyrolysis of alkylated amines, unimolecular decomposition of acetamide is investigated herein as a model compound. Standard heats of formation, entropies, and heat capacities, are calculated for all products and transition structures using several accurate theoretical levels. The potential energy surface is mapped out for all possible channels encountered in the pyrolysis of acetamide.

Theoretical study on the unimolecular decomposition of thiophenol.

The potential energy surface for the unimolecular decomposition of thiophenol (C(6)H(5)SH) is mapped out at two theoretical levels; BB1K/GTlarge and QCISD(T)/6-311+G(2d,p)//MP2/6-31G(d,p). Calculated reaction rate constants at the high pressure limit indicate that the major initial channel is the formation of C(6)H(6)S at all temperatures. Above 1000 K, the contribution from direct fission of the S-H bond becomes important.