Absorption of oxygen by n-butyraldehyde

The kinetics of absorption of oxygen by n-butyraldehyde dissolved in n-butyric acid, in the range of concentrations up to 3·1 × 10 -3 gmole/cm 3 (25 wt.-%), in the presence of manganese acetate, was studied in stirred cells and a bubble column. It was found that diffusion of oxygen is important. The reaction was found to be first-order in oxygen and second-order with respect to the aldehyde. The overall third-order reaction rate constant was found to be about 4 × 10 6 (cm 3 /gmole) 2 sec -1 at 20°. The effect of the catalysts, cobaltous acetate and (cobaltous + 4 cupric) acetates, on the specific rates of absorption of oxygen was also studied. Manganese acetate was found to be the best catalyst.