On the mechanism of promoting the autoignition of rich methanol-air mixtures by small additions of hydrogen peroxide

The mechanism of promoting the autoignition of rich methanol-air mixtures by small additions of hydrogen peroxide has been studied using the tracer method. It has been shown that with the addition of hydrogen peroxide, the oxidation of methanol with atmospheric oxygen begins with the formation of hydroxyl from peroxide, followed by its interaction with methanol to form $\mathrm{CH}_3\mathrm{O}$, $\mathrm{CH}_2\mathrm{OH}$ and then $\mathrm{HO}_2$ and $\mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}_2$. The branching factor for hydroxyl is higher with the addition of peroxide higher with than without the addition of peroxide.