percent gas chromatographic analysis showed the material remaining in the reaction flask contained 1 99 percent acetic acid 0 78 percent 3 homethf 0 08 percent low boilers and 97 15 percent 3 acetoxymethylthf based on these values the selectivity to 3 acetoxymethylthf was 99 92 percent the crude undistilled product was used directly in the step 2 pyrolysis reaction appearing as a light amber solution the pyrolysis zone or reactor consisted of a tube of vicor fused quartz having a diameter of 25 4 mm 1 inch filled with vicor glass shards an 81 3 cm 32 inch section of the tube was heated by means of a lindberg three stage electical furnace the total volume of the pyrolysis reactor was 190 cc the feed material used in the pyrolysis was the product of the esterification described above the reaction configuration fed the pyrolysis feed material from a 1 liter glass tank through a bellows pump to the top of the reactor where it was combined with nitrogen co feed and sent through the reactor the material coming from the base of the reactor was condensed and collected in either of two traps an air cooled trap for most material and a dry ice cooled trap for the low boiling material the experiment started with 950 milliliters of 3 acetoxymethylthf base product from 3 homethf acetylation consisting of 97 2 weight percent 3 acomethf pumped into the reactor over 5 45 hours with 128 cc minute of dry nitrogen co feed this rate corresponds to a contact time of 4 3 seconds at a conversion of 81 percent and a temperature of 450 u00b0 c the material collected in the traps amounted to 932 milliliters in the air cooled trap and an additional 17 milliliters in the.