The Gaseous Products formed in the Thermal Decompositions of Formates

Abstract

Thermal decomposition of Na, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd, Ba and Pb formates were investigated by use of gas chromatography and thermogravimetry. (1) Upon the decompositions of Na, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Zn, Sr, Cd and Ba formates, H2, CO and CO2 were formed as the main gaseous products, together with small amounts of CH4, HCHO, HCOOCH3 and CH3OH. These organic compounds were formed by secondary reactions from the other gaseous products under the catalytic actions of the solid products (carbonates or oxides). (2) The decompositions of Co, Ni, Cu and Pb formates proceeded through main process (a) and side process (b). The molar ratio of MO to M in the products was highest in the case of the decomposition of Co formate and was about 50%. In the case of Pb formate, two kinds of weak catalytic action of solid products were observed, i.e., Pb metal produced autocatalyzed the decomposition reaction itself, but PbO catalyzed the formation of organic compounds, except for CH4. However, in the other cases, the autocatalysis of metal was predominantly observed. © 1973, The Chemical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.