Rate constants of the reaction of C2–C4 peroxy radicals with OH radicals

Abstract

The rate constants for the reaction of three peroxy radicals with OH have been measured using different precursors. Peroxy radicals have been prepared by either the reaction of Cl-atoms with C2H6, C3H8 and n-C4H10 or through photolysis of the corresponding alkyliodide. Using Cl-atoms, the following rate constants have been measured:C2H5O2+OH→productsk1=(1.3±0.3)×1010cm3s-1C3H7O2+OH→productsk2=(1.4±0.3)×1010cm3s-1C4H9O2+OH→productsk3=(1.5±0.3)×1010cm3s-1Experiments using 248nm photolysis of the corresponding alkyliodides as precursor enhances the rate constants by a factor of two, bringing up the suspicion of a fast reaction between I-atoms and OH radicals.