Experimental and kinetic modeling study of cyclopentanone pyrolysis in a jet-stirred reactor

Cyclopentanone (CPN) is a widely available biofuel with excellent combustion properties, but detailed speciation profiles during its pyrolysis have rarely been studied. This work examines the pyrolysis of CPN in a jet-stirred reactor (JSR) at atmospheric pressure, with residence time of 2 s and a temperature range from 830 K to 1100 K. Dozens of pyrolysis intermediates and products were measured using synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry (SVUV-PIMS) and gas chromatography (GC). Among them, several new species were observed, including water, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, indene, 1,2-dihydroindene, naphthalene, 1,2-dihydronaphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, acenaphthylene, biphenyl, and fluorene. A detailed kinetic model was developed based on the literature, and in general, it predicted the experimental results for most species well. Kinetic analyses indicated that the consumption of CPN was controlled by the bimolecular reactions with H atom. The formation of water, carbon dioxide and formaldehyde could be explained by the reaction pathways of OH radical. The pyrolysis of CPN yielded a significant number of alkenes and alkynes at higher temperatures; the bimolecular addition reactions of these species with resonantly stabilized radicals are important to the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Based on those, this work provides valuable insights into CPN pyrolysis chemistry and it promotes the development of a comprehensive CPN combustion model.