Direct rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with the biofuel molecule ethyl levulinate

Abstract

Second generation (2G) biofuels are produced from non-edible lignocellulosic biomass providing sustainable alternatives for fossil fuels. The OH reaction rate constant has been determined for the 2G biofuel ethyl levulinate (CH3C(O)CH2CH2C(O)OCH2CH3, ELA) (1) for the first time. The direct reaction kinetic technique of pulsed laser photolysis (PLP) coupled with resonance fluorescence (RF) detection of OH radicals has been used to determine the rate constant value of k 1 = (3.43 ± 0.36) × 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 (298 K), where the error given designates 2σ accuracy. Implications for atmospheric chemistry have been discussed.