Decomposition and oxidation reactions of aliphatic nitro compounds in supercritical water

The reaction kinetics of nitromethane, nitroethane, and 1-nitropropane decomposition and oxidation in supercritical water near the critical point was studied in a flow reactor. The reaction rate constants were calculated assuming first-order reaction. It was found that pressure has a considerable effect on the rates of decomposition of the above nitrogen-containing compounds in supercritical water over a wide pressure range. The reactivity of the above aliphatic nitro compounds in supercritical water in decomposition reactions decreased and in oxidation reactions increased with an increasing number of carbon atoms.