Probing of sequential atmospheric degradation of chlorine radical initiated 1,8-cineole in the presence of O2 and NO radical with the emission of secondary pollution

1,8-cineole is an essential monoterpene cyclic ether which is released into the troposphere by many types of plants. It interacts with several atmospheric oxidants because of which is removed from the troposphere via oxidation. The oxidation of 1,8-cineole with Cl radical and the subsequent addition of atmospheric O₂ and NO radical with the intermediates are studied using the quantum chemical method. Further, the thermodynamic parameters of 1,8-cineole, such as enthalpy and Gibbs free energy are calculated for all initial and subsequent reactions to facilitate perspicacity. The dissociation and formation of chemical bonds during H abstraction from 1,8-cineole at C2, C6, and C8 sites are described using Mayer bond order analysis. The reaction force analysis demonstrates that the structural rearrangement is dominant with the yield percentages of 85%, 50.80%, and 96.9% over electron reordering with the yield percentages of 15%, 49.19%, and 3.03% respectively in the H abstraction reaction of 1,8-cineole. In the temperature range of 278-350 K, the total CVT/SCT rate constant is calculated to be 2.94 × 10^-12 cm³/molecule/sec, which is consistent with the experimentally available value of 2.2 × 10^-10 cm³/molecule/sec. At 298 K, branching ratios of rate constant of alkyl radical intermediates I1A, I1B, and I1C are calculated with the percentage of 42.19%, 21.52%, and 36.29% respectively, which suggest that the Cl addition to the C2 site contributes more to the total rate constant rather than the other two sites (C6 and C8). The lifetime of 1,8-cineole is calculated to be 5.2 weeks, implies that the 1,8-cineole may be readily destroyed in the atmosphere after it is released. Secondary pollutants formed from this degradation mechanism may be harmful to the environment and the living things.

Highly Speciated Measurements of Terpenoids Emitted from Laboratory and Mixed-Conifer Forest Prescribed Fires

Wildland fires in the western United States are projected to increase in frequency, duration, and size. Characterized by widespread and diverse conifer forests, burning within this region may lead to significant terpenoid emissions. Terpenoids constitute a major class of highly reactive secondary organic aerosol (SOA) precursors, with significant structure-dependent variability in reactivity and SOA-formation potential. In this study, highly speciated measurements of terpenoids emitted from laboratory and prescribed fires were achieved using two-dimensional gas chromatography. Nearly 100 terpenoids were measured in smoke samples from 71 fires, with high variability in the dominant compounds. Terpenoid emissions were dependent on plant species and tissues. Canopy/needle-derived emissions dominated in the laboratory fires, whereas woody-tissue-derived emissions dominated in the prescribed fires. Such differences likely have implications for terpenoid emissions from high vs low intensity fires and suggest that canopy-dominant laboratory fires may not accurately represent terpenoid emissions from prescribed fires or wildland fires that burn with low intensity. Predicted SOA formation was sensitive to the diversity of emitted terpenoids when compared to assuming a single terpene surrogate. Given the demonstrated linkages between fuel type, fire terpenoid emissions, and the subsequent implications for plume chemistry, speciated measurements of terpenoids in smoke derived from diverse ecosystems and fire regimes may improve air quality predictions downwind of wildland fires.

Atmospheric fate of hydrofluoroolefins, CxF2x+1CHCH2 (x = 1,2,3,4 and 6): Kinetics with Cl atoms and products

Rate coefficients for the gas-phase reactions of C_xF_2x+1CHCH₂ (x = 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6) with Cl atoms were determined at (298 ± 2) K and (710 ± 5) Torr of air using a relative rate technique. Two experimental setups with simulation chambers were employed with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) as detection techniques. The Cl-rate coefficients obtained were (in 10^-10 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1): (0.85 ± 0.11) for CF₃CHCH₂, (1.11 ± 0.08) for C₂F₅CHCH₂, (1.12 ± 0.18) for C₃F₇CHCH₂, (0.97 ± 0.09) for C₄F₉CHCH₂, and (0.99 ± 0.08) for C₆F₁₃CHCH₂. Additionally, the gas-phase products were identified and quantified, when possible, by FTIR spectroscopy or GC-MS. The main reaction product was reported to be C_xF_2x+1C(O)CH₂Cl. The fluorinated species, C_xF_2x+1CHO and C_xF_2x+1C(O)CH₂Cl, were identified. CF₃C(O)CH₂Cl and CF₃CHO were found to be formed with molar yield of (69 ± 5)% and (9 ± 1)%, respectively. The global lifetime of the investigated C_xF_2x+1CHCH₂ due to their Cl-reaction is more than 100 days so this route does not compete with the removal by OH radicals. This lifetime is long enough for C_xF_2x+1CHCH₂ to be transported to remote areas where they can be degraded. However, at a local scale, in marine regions at dawn the removal of C_xF_2x+1CHCH₂ is expected to occur in ca. 1 day. The atmospheric degradation of these hydrofluoroolefins by Cl atoms is not expected to be a source of bioaccumulative perfluorinated carboxylic acids, C_xF_2x+1C(O)OH. Additionally, the UV absorption cross sections of CF₃C(O)CH₂Cl were determined together with the rate coefficient of the OH reaction by an absolute kinetic method at room temperature.

Atmospheric reactions of methylcyclohexanes with Cl atoms and OH radicals: determination of rate coefficients and degradation products

As the result of biogenic and anthropogenic activities, large quantities of chemical compounds are emitted into the troposphere. Alkanes, in general, and cycloalkanes are an important chemical class of hydrocarbons found in diesel, jet and gasoline, vehicle exhaust emissions, and ambient air in urban areas. In general, the primary atmospheric fate of organic compounds in the gas phase is the reaction with hydroxyl radicals (OH). The oxidation by Cl atoms has gained importance in the study of atmospheric reactions because they may exert some influence in the boundary layer, particularly in marine and coastal environments, and in the Arctic troposphere. The aim of this paper is to study of the atmospheric reactivity of methylcylohexanes with Cl atoms and OH radicals under atmospheric conditions (in air at room temperature and pressure). Relative kinetic techniques have been used to determine the rate coefficients for the reaction of Cl atoms and OH radicals with methylcyclohexane, cis-1,4-dimethylcyclohexane, trans-1,4-dimethylcyclohexane, and 1,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane at 298 ± 2 K and 720 ± 5 Torr of air by Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in two atmospheric simulation chambers. The products formed in the reaction under atmospheric conditions were investigated using a 200-L Teflon bag and employing the technique of solid-phase microextraction coupled to a GC-MS. The rate coefficients obtained for the reaction of Cl atoms with the studied compounds are the following ones (in units of 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): (3.11 ± 0.16), (2.89 ± 0.16), (2.89 ± 0.26), and (2.61 ± 0.42), respectively. For the reactions with OH radicals the determined rate coefficients are (in units of 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)): (1.18 ± 0.12), (1.49 ± 0.16), (1.41 ± 0.15), and (1.77 ± 0.23), respectively. The reported error is twice the standard deviation. A detailed mechanism for ring-retaining product channels is proposed to justify the observed reaction products. The global tropospheric lifetimes estimated from the reported OH- and Cl-rate coefficients show that the main removal path for the investigated methylcyclohexanes is the reaction with OH radicals. But in marine environments, after sunrise, Cl reactions become more important in the tropospheric degradation. Thus, the estimated lifetimes range from 16 to 24 h for the reactions of the OH radical (calculated with [OH] = 10(6) atoms cm(-3)) and around 7-8 h in the reactions with Cl atoms in marine environments (calculated with [Cl] = 1.3 × 10(5) atoms cm(-3)). The reaction of Cl atoms and OH radicals and methylcylohexanes can proceed by H abstraction from the different positions.