Mechanistic study of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine transformation over Pt/SiO catalyst.

Catalytic oxidation of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) with molecular oxygen over Pt/SiO was studied by FTIR spectroscopy coupled with online MS monitoring of the gas phase. An unusual two-step oxidation process was detected in experiments with the pulse UDMH feeding: initial UDMH oxidation over a fresh platinum surface quickly terminates due to the blockage of active sites; a time-separated second oxidation step corresponds to combustion of the surface residue. This residue consists of C[triple bond, length as m-dash]N nitrile groups formed decomposition of the products of non-oxidative UDMH conversion, such as dimethylamine. The two-step oxidation picture is observed over a broad range of reaction temperatures and oxygen to UDMH ratios.