Nitrous from heterogeneous oxidation

Jensen, A., Johnsson, J.E., and Dam-Johansen, K. (1993) Formation of Nitric Oxide and Nitrous Oxide from Heterogeneous Oxidation of Hydrogen Cyanide at Fluidized Bed Combustion Conditions. 12 Int. Conf. on Fluidized bed Combustion, ASME, New York, 447-454. 

The heterogeneous decomposition of nitrous oxide in contact with a heated gold wire is interesting, though undoubtedly rather exceptional. The reaction is unimole-cular with respect to nitrous oxide. The heat of activation, obtained from the temperature coefficient of the reaction velocity, is 29,000 calories. 

Summary.—The mechanism of the activation process in gaseous systems has been investigated from the point of view of (1) activation by radiation (2) activation by collision. An increase in the radiation density of possible activating frequencies has resulted in no increased reaction velocity. The study of the bimolecular decomposition of nitrous oxide at low pressures has led to the conclusion that the reaction is entirely heterogeneous at these pressures. A study of the unimolecular decomposition of nitrogen pentoxide between pressures of 7io mm. Hg and 2 X 10 3 mm. Hg shows no alteration in the rate of reaction such as was found by Hirst and Rideal but follows exactly the rate determined by Daniels and Johnson at high pressures. No diminution of the reaction velocity as might be ex-expected from Lindemann s theory was observed. 

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