A shock tube study of the high temperature reactions of nitrogen with hydrocarbons

A single pulse shock tube has been used to study the reactions of nitrogen with methane, ethane and acetylene at 1400°‐6000°K. Reactants heated by the reflected shock for about 1–1.5 milliseconds are cooled by rarefaction waves, and samples obtained through a quick‐opening check valve are analyzed by gas chromatography . The effect of nitrogen on hydrocarbon pyrolysis appears to be negligible below about 2000°K. At higher temperatures, vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules react with free radicals and produce hydrogen cyanide. Activation energies in the range 23 to 54 Kcal/mole are calculated for the formation of hydrogen cyanide.