Gas-phase oxidations of hydrocarbons

Various aspects of the oxidation of hydrocarbons in the temperature range 300-800 K have been considered. The characteristics of the combustion reactions have been reviewed with special attention to the unusual properties of cool flames. The theories of combustion have been summarized and this work was followed by an investigation of such kinetic and thermochemical data as were available on alkyl radical-oxygen reactions. The data have been used to interpret and emphasize the important mechanistic trends in the field of hydrocarbon oxidation over a wide temperature range. Whilst considerable progress has been made into understanding combustion theory, more kinetic information is required to interpret many of the combustion phenomena observed experimentally.