Dodecane
# Dodecane

Dodecane (also known as dihexyl, bihexyl, adakane 12, or duodecane) is an oily liquid n-alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula $C_{12}H_{26}$ (which has 355 isomers).

It is used as a solvent, distillation chaser, and scintillator component. It is used as a diluent for tributyl phosphate (TBP) in nuclear reprocessing plants.

## Combustion reaction

The combustion reaction of dodecane is as follows:

    $C_{12}H_{26}(l)$ + 18.5 $O_2(g)$ → 12 $CO_2(g)$ + 13 $H_2O(g)$
    ΔH° = −7513 kJ

One litre of fuel needs about 15 kg of air to burn (2.6 kg of oxygen), and generates 2.3 kg (or 1.2 $m^3)$ of $CO_2$ upon complete combustion.

## Jet fuel surrogate

In recent years, n-dodecane has garnered attention as a possible surrogate for kerosene-based fuels such as Jet-A, S-8, and other conventional aviation fuels. It is considered a second-generation fuel surrogate designed to emulate the laminar flame speed, largely supplanting n-decane, primarily due to its higher molecular mass and lower hydrogen-to-carbon ratio which better reflect the n-alkane content of jet fuels.

