The zinc-photosensitized reaction of propane

The zinc-photosensitized reaction of propane was studied at 633 K, 67-40,000 Pa, and a wavelength of 307.6 nm. The major products were hydrogen, methane, ethylene, and dimethylbutane (DMB), while the minor products were propylene, isobutane, ethane, butane, and hexane. The yields of hydrogen, methane, and ethylene increased linearly with the light intensity, while that of DMB showed a second-order dependence on the light intensity. The yield of ethylene was almost equal to that of methane under all conditions studied. The dependences of product formation on the time and propane pressure in the zinc-photosensitized decomposition of propane was different from those in the cadmium-photosensitized decomposition, but was similar to those in the mercury-photosensitized decomposition at high temperature. The methane/hydrogen ratio was always smaller than unity and was independent of the propane pressure.