Application of Tikhonov Regularization Technique to the Kinetic Data of an Autocatalytic Reaction: Pyrolysis of N-Eicosane

A new technique based on Tikhonov regularization, for converting time-concentration data into concentration-reaction rate data, was applied to a novel pyrolysis investigation carried out by Susu and Kunugi [1]. The reaction which involves the thermal decomposition of n-eicosane using synthesis gas for K2CO3-catalyzed shift reaction was reported to be autocatalytic. This result was confirmed by applying Tikhonov regularization to the experimental data (conversion vs. time) presented by Susu and Kunugi [1]. Due to the ill-posed nature of the problem of obtaining reaction rates from experimental data, conventional methods will lead to noise amplification of the experimental data. Hence, Tikhonov regularization is preferably employed because it is entirely independent of reaction rate model and it also manages to keep noise amplification under control, thus, leading to more reliable results. This is shown by the agreement of the kinetic parameters obtained using the resulting conversion-reaction rate profile, with the Ostwald-type process for autocatalysis suggested by Susu and Kunugi [1].