Experimental study on the thermal oxidation of chlorobenzene at 575–825°C

The thermal degradation processes of chlorobenzene were investigated using a tubular flow reactor at I atm. over the range 575–825°C in reaction atmospheres in which oxygen was in excess (equivalence ratio Φ = 0.035). The concentration profiles of C6H5Cl, C02, HCl and Cl2 as well as the major intermediate byproducts (CO, CH4 C2H2 C2H4 vinyl chloride, vinylacetylene, furane and benzene) were determined as a function of temperature for a residence time of 2 seconds. More seventy organics as trace species were also identified. Most of them are aromatics substituted by Cl (1 to 4), OH (1 or 2) or alkyl groups. Some precursors of dioxins ( benzofuranes and chlorophenols) were also observed. Experimental results showed that the ring breaking processes were preponderant over the studied temperature range. Reaction pathways explaining the formation of mainly observed products are presented and discussed.