Anhydrous bulk barium nitrate decomposes over the temperature range 500-700 degrees C, with the main decomposition taking place at 630 degrees C. The gaseous products were oxygen and nitric oxide that were evolved simultaneously. Minor amounts of nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen, and nitrous oxide were also detected. Dispersing the barium nitrate on alumina and titania led to substantial reductions in the nitrate decomposition temperature and to more complex decomposition profiles as a result of synergistic effects between the nitrate and the supports, and to the adsorption of some decomposition product gases upon them leading to the release of greater amounts of nitrous oxide. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.