High pressure studies of the carbon-oxygen reaction

The reaction of highly crystalline graphite flakes at O2 pressures between 0. 1-6.4 MPa and temperatures between 733-842 K is followed. The global activation energy for the reaction is 204 +/- 4 kJ/mole and is independent of carbon burnoff and O2 pressure. The order of the reaction decreases from 0.83 to 0.51 as reaction temperature increases from 733 to 842 K. The results are considered on the basis of the known existence of stable and fleeting oxygen complexes on the carbon surface and the possible existence of nascent carbon active sites during carbon gasification.