ISSN:
1573-0662
Keywords:
Abiotic degradability
;
vertical ionisation energy
;
reaction rate constant
;
OH radical reactivity
;
tropospheric lifetime
;
organic compounds
;
environmental chemicals
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Geosciences
Notes:
Abstract A statistically relevant correlation between the reaction rate coefficient, k OH, for the OH radical reaction with 161 organic compounds in the gas phase at 300 K, and the corresponding vertical ionisation energies E i,v, reveals two classes of compounds: aromatics where −log(k OH/cm3s-1)≃3/2E i,v(eV)−2 and aliphatics where −log(k OH/cm3s-1)≃4/5E i,v(eV)+3. The prediction of the rate coefficient, k OH, for the reaction of OH with organic molecules from the above equations has a probability of about 90%. Assuming a global diurnal mean of the OH radical concentration of 5×105 cm3, the upper limit of the tropospheric half-life of organic compounds and their persistence can be estimated.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00127264
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