Kinetics of the reaction of OH radicals with t‐amyl methyl ether revisited

Abstract

AbstractThe kinetics of the reaction of OH radicals with t‐amyl methyl ether (TAME) have been reinvestigated using both absolute (flash photolysis resonance fluorescence) and relative rate techniques. Relative rate experiments were conducted at 295 K in 99 kPa (740 torr) of synthetic air using ethyl t‐butyl ether, cyclohexane, and di‐isopropyl ether as reference compounds. Absolute rate experiments were performed over the temperature range 240–400 K at a total pressure of 4.7 kPa (35 torr) of argon. Rate constant determinations from both techniques are in good agreement and can be represented by k1=(6.32 ± 0.72) × 10−12 exp[(−40 ± 70)/T] cm3 molecule−1 s−1. equation image Quoted errors represent 2σ from the least squares analysis and do not include any estimate of systematic errors. We show that results from the previous kinetic study of reaction (1) are in error due to the presence of a reactive impurity. Results are discussed in terms of the atmospheric chemistry of TAME. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.