Although HCN is an important intermediate in NOx
chemistry, including formation and removal processes, no
comprehensive kinetic model for the oxidation of HCN
was available in the literature.
The existing kinetic data available for the kinetics of
oxidation of HCN under shock-tube, flow-tube, premixed
flame, and jet-stirred reactor were reviewed. The thermochemistry
and kinetics of existing reaction schemes were
examined yielding an updated detailed chemical kinetic
reaction mechanism (250 reversible reactions and 41
species).
A comprehensive detailed chemical kinetic modeling of
the ignition, oxidation and combustion of HCN was
performed to validate the proposed model over a wide
range of conditions (800–3000 K, ca. 0.033–10 atm). An
overall good agreement between this large set of experimental
results and the modeling was achieved, with
improved predictions under flow-reactor and jet-stirred
reactor conditions. The main reaction paths involved in the
oxidation of HCN and interaction with NO have been
delineated.
The present modeling effort demonstrated that further
work is needed to assess the kinetics of HNC reactions, in
particular that of HNC+O2, and to propose a refined
HNC oxidation sub-mechanism.