Table 5 Hydrocarbons (methane, propane, n-hexane, and benzene as examples) and other substances as “energy carriers.” In a reaction with oxygen, liquid hydrocarbons reveal a high gravimetric energy density in comparison to many other compounds and elements (calculated for the highest oxides in their standard state). Gaseous hydrocarbons reveal a high volumetric energy density
From: Energetic and Other Quantitative Aspects of Microbial Hydrocarbon Utilization: An Introduction
Substance | ΔG° of oxidation with O2 | ΔH° of oxidation with O2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Per mass of substance \( \left(\mathrm{kJ}\ {\mathrm{kg}}^{-1}\right) \) | Per volume of substance \( \left(\mathrm{kJ}\ {\mathrm{m}}^{-3}\right) \) | Per mass of substance \( \left(\mathrm{kJ}\ {\mathrm{kg}}^{-1}\right) \) | ||
Gases (101 kPa) | ||||
H2 | \( -117.6\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -9.7\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -141.8\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -11.7\times 1{0}^3 \) |
CH4 | \( -51.0\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -33.5\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -55.5\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -36.4\times 1{0}^3 \) |
C3H8 | \( -47.8\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -86.2\times 1{0}^{3\ \mathrm{a}} \) | \( -50.3\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -90.8\times 1{0}^{3\ \mathrm{a}} \) |
NH3b | \( -19.9\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -13.8\times 1{0}^{3\ \mathrm{a}} \) | \( -22.5\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -15.6\times 1{0}^{3\ \mathrm{a}} \) |
H2Sc | \( -19.3\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -26.8\times 1{0}^{3\ \mathrm{a}} \) | \( -23.3\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -32.4\times 1{0}^{3\ \mathrm{a}} \) |
Solids or liquids | ||||
Li | \( -40.4\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -21.6\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -43.0\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -23.0\times 1{0}^6 \) |
B | \( -55.2\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -135.7\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -58.8\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -144.7\times 1{0}^6 \) |
CGraphite | \( -32.8\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -74.4\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -32.8\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -74.4\times 1{0}^6 \) |
C6H14 | \( -46.7\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -30.8\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -48.3\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -31.9\times 1{0}^6 \) |
C6H6 | \( -41.0\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -36.0\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -41.8\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -37.5\times 1{0}^6 \) |
CH3OH | \( -21.9\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -17.5\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -22.7\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -18.1\times 1{0}^6 \) |
CH3CH2OH | \( -28.8\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -22.8\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -29.7\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -23.5\times 1{0}^6 \) |
C6H12O6(α-D-Glucose) | \( -16.0\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -25.0\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -15.6\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -24.3\times 1{0}^6 \) |
Mg | \( -23.4\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -40.8\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -24.8\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -43.1\times 1{0}^6 \) |
Al | \( -29.3\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -79.2\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -31.1\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -84.0\times 1{0}^6 \) |
Si | \( -30.5\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -71.1\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -32.4\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -75.5\times 1{0}^6 \) |
Pwhite | \( -21.8\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -39.7\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -24.1\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -43.9\times 1{0}^6 \) |
S | \( -11.6\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -22.7\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -12.3\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -24.1\times 1{0}^6 \) |
Fe | \( -6.6\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -52.3\times 1{0}^6 \) | \( -7.4\times 1{0}^3 \) | \( -58.3\times 1{0}^6 \) |