Infrared spectroscopy measurements of the kinetics and
decomposition pathways of aqueous urea
((NH2)2CO, 200−300 °C, 275 bar) and guanidinium nitrate
([(NH2)3C]NO3, 240−300
°C, 275 bar) are described. A
Pt/Ir alloy flow cell with diamond wafer windows was used, and heat and
fluid transport models show that
isothermal and plug flow conditions exist. The hydrothermolysis of
urea was modeled by the conversion of
urea to NH4
+ + OCN- followed
by hydrolysis to CO2 + 2NH3. These
reactions are a subset of those for
hydrothermolysis of guanidinium nitrate. Decomposition of
guanidinium nitrate is catalyzed by the formation
of NH3. The reaction scheme involves deprotonation of
the guanidinium ion by NH3 to produce neutral
guanidine, which hydrolyzes to form urea as the rate-determining step.
The subsequent hydrothermolysis
chemistry follows that of urea. Thus, although the overall
decomposition rate of guanidinium nitrate is slower
than that of urea, the Arrhenius parameters for the step for formation
of CO2 from guanidinium nitrate and
urea are similar [E
a ≅ 66 kJ/mol, ln
A (s-1) ≅ 19]. Only a
small difference in these values is incurred by
using a 316 stainless steel−sapphire cell in place of the
Pt/Ir−diamond cell. Hence, wall effects appear to
be small for this reaction.