The gas phase reactions of hydroxyl radicals with a series of aliphatic alcohols over the temperature range 240–440 K

Abstract

AbstractAbsolute rate constants were determined for the gas phase reactions of OH radicals with a series of aliphatic alcohols using the flash photolysis resonance fluorescence technique. Experiments were performed over the temperature range 240–440 K at total pressures (using Ar diluent gas) between 25–50 Torr. The kinetic data for methanol (k1), ethanol (k2), and 2‐propanol (k3) were used to derive the Arrhenius expressions and At 296 K, the measured rate constants (in units of 10−13 cm3 molecule−1 s−1) were: k1 = (8.61 ± 0.47), k2 = (33.3 ± 2.3), and k3 = (58.1 ± 3.4). Room temperature rate constants for the OH reactions with several other aliphatic alcohols were also measured. These were (in the above units): 1‐propanol, (53.4 ± 2.9); 1‐butanol, (83.1 ± 6.3) and 1‐pentanol, (108 ± 11). The results are discussed in terms of the mechanisms for these reactions and are compared to previous literature data.