“…Thermal degradation of diesel fuel is not enhanced in the presence of cementitious material or at alkaline pH. Similarly, diesel fuel hydrous pyrolysis is not catalyzed by FiberCretem or by Topopah Spring Tuff and does not accelerate dissolution of silicate minerals found in these solids at 200"C. These results agree with previous studies that show that water inhiiits the catalytic effects of clay minerals in contact with alkanes, allcenes, alcohols, and ethers (Weres et al, 1988;Tannenbaum and Kaplan, 1985). In a preliminary study, Bell et al (1992) show that acetate decarboxylation reactions are enhanced in the presence of magnetite, hematite, Ca-and Fe-montmorillonite, and nonstoichiometric pyrite, indicating the Fes+ -Fe+ redox couple as an important catalyst.…”