A study of volatility depression potential (VDP) of hydrogen peroxide from the combustion rate of ethanol fuel

The kinetic result of volatility depression potentials of H₂O₂ from the combustion rate of ethanol fuel was monitored thermochemically. The additive (hydrogen peroxide) has been observed to depress the combustion rate of pure ethanol sample. The combustion rates of the pure ethanol sample was recorded experimentally as 2.13cm³sec ⁻¹. With the addition of 0.01 mole of H₂O₂, a value of 1.87cm³sec ⁻¹ was obtained. The combustion rate decreased with increased concentration of the additive up to a minimum of 0.52cm³sec ⁻¹ with addition of 0.10mole of the peroxide. The decrease in the rate constant of combustion caused by the additive was also observed to produce a longer half-life for the alkanol fuel. The mechanism of the interaction of the H₂O₂ with the ethanol molecule was studied with the help of UV-Visible spectrophotometry and was attributed mainly to bathochromic and hyperchromic effects. Elucidation was based on the kinetic and molecular deviations of the sample-additive system from that of the pure sample system.