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2800943 
Journal Article 
On The Combustion Of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons. I. Trichloroethylene 
Bose, D; Senkan, SM 
1983 
Yes 
Combustion Science and Technology
ISSN: 0010-2202
EISSN: 1563-521X 
NIOSH/00143617 
35 
1-4 
1-4 
Combustion characteristics of trichloroethylene (79016) were examined. Gas mixtures containing unspecified concentrations of trichloroethylene, oxygen (7782447), and nitrogen (7727379) were combusted in a specially designed flat burner system. Temperature measurements were made within the flame 0 to 25 millimeters (mm) from the burner with a platinum rhodium thermocouple. Gas samples were continuously withdrawn from the flame 0 to 25mm from the burner and analyzed by gas chromatography. All experiments were conducted at atmospheric pressure. The combustion of trichloroethylene produced a flame consisting of two distinct zones. The first zone was relatively narrow, on the order of 1 to 3mm thick, having a maximum temperature of 920 degrees-C. The first zone was followed by an intermediate buffer region of about 15mm. The second zone occurred about 20mm above the burner and had a maximum temperature of approximately 1500 degrees. In the first flame zone, trichloroethylene underwent fast oxidative reactions that produced primarily carbon-monoxide (630080), hydrogen-chloride (7647010), and chlorine (7782505). Some carbon-dioxide (124389) formation was also noted. A number of short lived intermediates such as carbon-tetrachloride (56235), tetrachloroethylene (127184), chloroform (67663), and carbonyl-chloride (75445) were also detected in the first flame zone. The intermediate and second flame zones were characterized by the slow oxidation of carbon-monoxide. The authors conclude that combustion of trichloroethylene proceeds in two stages. Hydrogen-chloride and chlorine form in the first stage and inhibit the oxidation of carbon-monoxide by competing for reactive fragments as well as inhibiting chain branching reactions. The extent of flame zone separation depends on the chlorine content of the mixture and the extent of dilution present.