Catalytic oxidation kinetics of iron-containing carbon particles generated by spraying ferrocene-mixed with diesel fuel into a hydrogen-air diffusion flame

Kinetic measurements of the catalytic oxidation of iron-containing soot particles were made for a better understanding of the role of catalytic particles in the initiation of soot oxidation. Carbon-based iron-containing soot particles were generated by spraying ferrocene-mixed with diesel fuel into an oxy-hydrogen flame. A commercial carbon black was used as a standard. Their oxidative kinetics and physico-chemical characteristics were measured by thermogravimetric analysis, secondary ion mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, gas-cell Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, induced coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It was found that a tiny amount of ferrocene led to a significant reduction in both the on-set temperature and the activation energy of soot oxidation. Catalytic oxidation occurred in two consecutive steps, as temperature increased. The initiation of oxidation, even with an addition of ferrocene, was controlled mainly by surface oxygen complexes and partly by the long-range crystalline order of the carbon graphene layer. However, once catalytic oxidation began, the progress of the reaction was mainly determined by the amount of ferrocene that was added. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.