Oxidative Degradation Kinetics and Mechanism of Two Biodiesel Constituents (Ethyl-2-Methyl Propionate (E2MP) and Ethyl-2,2-Dimethyl Propionate (E22DMP)) Initiated by Cl Atoms

Abstract

The oxidative reaction kinetics and mechanism of Ethyl-2-methyl propionate (E2MP) and Ethyl-2, 2-dimethyl propionate (E22DMP) initiated by Cl atoms were investigated both experimentally and computationally. Temperature dependent kinetic studies on the reaction of E2MP and E22DMP with Cl atoms were measured using relative rate technique over the temperature range of 268-363 K and at 760 Torr. The rate coefficients of both the reactions at 298 K were measured (using IUPAC recommended reference rate coefficients) to be k_(E2MP+Cl)^(298 K)= (7.19±1.60) × 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 and k_(E22DMP+Cl)^(298 K)= (5.87±1.33) × 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 respectively. In addition to complement our experimental results, the kinetics were computed at CCSD(T)/MG3S//BHandHLYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory over the temperature range of 200-400 K using Canonical Variational Transition State theory (CVT) in conjunction with Small Curvature Tunneling (SCT) and Interpolated Single Point Energy (ISPE). Furthermore, the product deg...