2. Phenomena observed during oxidation of organic molecules

Oxidation reactions of organic compounds are usually non-isothermal reactions, meaning that temperature rises relative to the reactor set-point temperature occur within the gas phase.

Numerous experimental studies have been carried out on oxidation reactions of hydrocarbons or organic molecules in closed reactors as a function of temperature, initial pressure and mixture composition . These studies have shown that between 550 and 800 K generally, and below 1 atm, these reactions give rise to a rather complex pressure/temperature diagram of the type shown in figure