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Title: Kinetics and mechanism of the photooxidation of formaldehyde. 1. Flash photolysis study

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100343a033· OSTI ID:5143193
; ; ;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Universite de Bordeaux l, Talence (France)
  2. Harwell Lab., Didcot, Oxfordshire (England)
  3. Max Planck Institut fuer Chemie, Mainz (Germany, F.R.)

Transient species in the photooxidation of formaldehyde in air have been investigated by using the technique of flash photolysis kinetic spectroscopy. The absorption spectrum attributed to the HOCH{sub 2}O{sub 2} radical was observed with a maximum near 230 nm. This radical is formed by the reaction HO{sub 2} + HCHO {Longleftrightarrow} HOCH{sub 2}O{sub 2} (1, -1). The rate constants were measured for the two reactions: k{sub 1} = 7.7 {times} 10{sup {minus}15} exp((625 {plus minus} 550)/T) cm{sup 3} molecule{sup {minus}1} s{sup {minus}1} and k{sub {minus}1} = 2.0 {times} 10{sup 12} exp(({minus}7000 {plus minus} 2000)/T) s{sup {minus}1}. The equilibrium constant is K{sub 1}* = 3.85 {times} 10{sup {minus}27} exp(7625/T) cm{sup 3} molecule{sup {minus}1}, which corresponds to a reaction enthalpy {Delta}H{sub 1}{degree} = {minus}16.25 {plus minus} 0.30 kcal mol{sup {minus}1}, which is based on the K{sub p} value and quantum calculations of {Delta}S{sub 0}{degree} and therefore determined accurately. Kinetic measurements performed under various experimental conditions allowed determinations of the rate constants for the reactions HO{sub 2} + HOCH{sub 2}O{sub 2} {yields} products (3) and 2HOCH{sub 2}O{sub 2} {yields} O{sub 2} + CH{sub 2}(OH){sub 2} + HCOOH (4b); k{sub 3} = 5.6 {times} 10{sup {minus}15} exp((2300 {plus minus} 1100)/T); k{sub 4b} = 5.65 {times} 10{sup {minus}14} exp((750 {plus minus} 400)/T) cm{sup 3} molecule{sup {minus}1} s{sup {minus}1}. The branching ratios for k{sub 3} and k{sub 4} were determined in separate experiments described in part 2 of this work.

OSTI ID:
5143193
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry; (USA), Vol. 93:6; ISSN 0022-3654
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English