Mathematical Interpretation of Aqueous‐phase Ozone Decomposition Rates

Abstract

Experimental data and hypothetical process behavior are analyzed in an attempt to elucidate the kinetics of aqueous phase ozone decomposition reactions. Three commonly accepted mathematical techniques (integral, differential, van't Hoff) for the analysis of rate data are employed. The results indicate that when single‐order dependencies are used to model autocatalytic reactions, timevariable behavior of the rate constant and order is exhibited. This can partially explain existing controversy within the scientific community regarding the apparent order of ozone decomposition reactions. A simple autocatalytic rate expression is developed that accurately describes the decomposition rate data. The conclusions from the work have implications not only for development of an understanding of ozone decomposition kinetics, but for the analysis of rate data derived from nonelementary reactions in general.