One of the most abundant carboxylic acids measured in the atmosphere is acetic acid (CH 3 C(O)OH), present in rural, urban, and remote marine environments in the low-ppb range. Acetic acid concentrations are not well reproduced in global 3-D atmospheric models because of the poor inventory of sources and sinks to model its global distribution. To understand the complete oxidation of acetic acid in the atmosphere initiated by OH radicals, ab initio calculations are performed to describe in detail the energetics of the reaction potential energy surface (PES). The proposed reaction mechanism suggests that the CH 3 C(O)OH + OH reaction takes place via three pathways: the addition of OH to the central carbon, the abstraction of a methyl hydrogen, and the abstraction of an acidic hydrogen. The PES is characterized by prereactive H-complexes, transition states, and more interestingly unique radical-mediated isomerization reactions. From the analysis of the energetics, acetic acid atmospheric oxidation will proceed mainly via the abstraction of the acidic hydrogen, consistent with previous experimental and theoretical studies. The major byproducts from each pathway are identified. Glyoxylic acid is suggested to be a major byproduct of the atmospheric oxidation of acetic acid. The atmospheric fate of glyoxylic acid is discussed.

Dimethyl ether (DME) has been proposed for use as an alternative fuel or additive in diesel engines and as a potential fuel in solid oxide fuel cells. The oxidation chemistry of DME is a key element in understanding its role in these applications. The reaction between methoxymethyl radicals and O(2) has been examined over the temperature range 295-600 K and at pressures of 20-200 Torr. This reaction has two product pathways. The first produces methoxymethyl peroxy radicals, while the second produces OH radicals and formaldehyde molecules. Real-time kinetic measurements are made by transient infrared spectroscopy to monitor the yield of three main products-formaldehyde, methyl formate, and formic acid-to determine the branching ratio for the CH(3)OCH(2) + O(2) reaction pathways. The temperature and pressure dependence of this reaction is described by a Lindemann and Arrhenius mechanism. The branching ratio is described by f = 1/(1 + A(T)[M]), where A(T) = (1.6(+2.4)(-1.0) x 10(-20)) exp((1800 +/- 400)/T) cm(3) molecule(-1). The temperature dependent rate constant of the methoxymethyl peroxy radical self-reaction is calculated from the kinetics of the formaldehyde and methyl formate product yields, k(4) = (3.0 +/- 2.1) x 10(-13) exp((700 +/- 250)/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The experimental and kinetics modeling results support a strong preference for the thermal decomposition of alkoxy radicals versus their reaction with O(2) under our laboratory conditions. These characteristics of DME oxidation with respect to temperature and pressure might provide insight into optimizing solid oxide fuel cell operating conditions with DME in the presence of O(2) to maximize power outputs.

Dilute concentrations of normal-butanol has been decomposed in single pulse shock tube studies in the presence of large quantities of a chemical inhibitor that suppresses contributions from chain decomposition. Reaction temperatures and pressures are in the range of [1126-1231] K and [1.3-6.5] bar. Ethylene and 1-butene are the only products. The mechanism of the initial decomposition steps involves direct elimination of water and C-C bond cleavage. The fundamental high pressure unimolecular decomposition rate expressions are k(C(4)H(9)OH → CH(3) + CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)OH) = 10(16.4±0.4) exp(42410 ± 800 [K]/T) s(-1); k(C(4)H(9)OH → CH(3)CH(2) + CH(2)CH(2)OH) = 10(16.4±0.4) exp(-41150 ± 800 [K]/T) s(-1); k(C(4)H(9)OH → CH(3)CH(2)CH(2) + CH(2)OH) = 10(16.4±0.4) exp(-41150 ± 800 [K]/T) s(-1); and k(C(4)H(9)OH → CH(3)CH(2)CH═CH(2) + H(2)O) = 10(14.0±0.4) exp(-35089 ± 800 [K]/T) s(-1), where the rate expressions for C-C bond cleavage are based on assumptions regarding the relative rates of the three processes derived from earlier studies on the effect of an OH group on rate expressions. All reactions are in the high pressure limit and suggest that the step size down in the presence of argon is at least 1300 cm(-1). These rate expressions are consistent with the following H-C bond dissociation energies: BDE(H-CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)OH) = 417.2 ± 7 kJ/mol, BDE(H-CH(2)CH(2)OH) = 419.2 ± 7 kJ/mol, and BDE(H-CH(2)OH) = 401.7 ± 9 kJ/mol, with an estimated uncertainty of 6 kJ/mol. The kinetics and thermodynamic results are compared with estimates used in the building of combustion kinetics databases.

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[1] Propane (C 3 H 8 ) is one of the most abundant nonmethane hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. It is a fuel widely used, derived from petroleum products during oil and natural gas processing. It can be oxidized in the atmosphere via its reactions with hydroxyl (OH) radicals and chlorine (Cl) atoms and serves as an indicator for the presence of such oxidants. During the atmospheric degradation of propane, various carbonyl compounds are formed, with acetone, acetaldehyde, and propionaldehyde among the most prominent. Carbonyl compounds are relevant because of their toxicity and ability to produce free radicals by photolysis that give rise to stable products, thus providing valuable information about atmospheric oxidation processes. The exact mechanisms of the oxidation pathways of propane have not been properly characterized, although several speculations have been made that determine the oxidation products. The present study investigates the oxidation mechanism of propane, acetone, acetaldehyde, and propionaldehyde by ab inito molecular orbital methods. Detailed pathways leading to experimentally observed products are presented. Equilibrium geometries and energetics, as well as vibrational frequencies of species, transition states, and prereactive complexes are determined at the QCISD(T)/6-311G(2df,2p)//MP2(full)/6-31G(d).Citation: Rosado-Reyes, C. M., and J. S. Francisco (2007), Atmospheric oxidation pathways of propane and its by-products: Acetone, acetaldehyde, and propionaldehyde,