LIQUID PHASE CO-OXIDATION OF THIOPHENOL AND STYRENE BY OXYGEN AND t-BUTYL HYDROPEROXIDE

ABSTRACT

Instability problems in both shale and petroleum derived middle distillate jet fuels have been correlated with the presence of peroxidic species. Although a good body of knowledge exists concerning the formation of peroxides in the liquid phase, relatively little is known about the reaction/ decomposition pathways available when other functional groups are present, since sulfur is the most abundant heteroatam present in jet fuels, the reaction of t-butyl hydroperoxide (tBKP) and/or oxygen with thiophenol in the presence of the active olefin, styrene, was examined in deaerated benzene at 120°C. The complex product mixture was analyzed by combined capillary column GC/MS. Major products included acetone, t-butanol and isdbutylene from the tBHP. Thiophenol and styrene combined to form addition products. Phenyl disulfide was observed from the thiophenol. The results indicated that although the product slate was complex, it was possible to explain the product mix in terms of a few competing reactions.