Atmospheric chemistry of diethyl ether and ethyl tert-butyl ether

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Environmental Science and Technology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00015a005· OSTI ID:5675505

Wallington, T J; Japar, S M ^[1]

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1. Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (USA)

The mechanisms for the Cl-initiated and OH-initiated atmospheric oxidation of diethyl ether and ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) have been determined. For diethyl ether the products are ethyl formate and formaldehyde and its atmospheric oxidation can be represented by C{sub 2}H{sub 5}OC{sub 2}H{sub 5} + OH + 2NO {yields} C{sub 2}H{sub 5}OC(O)H + HCHO + 2NO{sub 2} + HO{sub 2}. The mechanism for the atmospheric oxidation of ETBE is more complex, with 80% of the reaction being accounted for in terms of tert-butyl formate and formaldehyde. The remaining 20% the authors ascribe to 2-ethoxy-2-methylpropanal. The atmospheric oxidation of ETBE can be represented by ETBE + OH + 1.8NO {yields} 0.8HCOOC(CH{sub 3}){sub 3} + 0.2C{sub 2}H{sub 5}OC(CH{sub 3}){sub 2}CHO + HO{sub 2} + 0.8HCHO + 1.8NO{sub 2}. THe subsequent atmospheric chemistry of 2-ethoxy-2-methylpropanal the authors estimate to be represented by C{sub 2}H{sub 5}OC(CH{sub 3}){sub 2}CHO + OH + 3NO {yields} CO{sub 2} + H{sub 2}CO + C{sub 2}H{sub 5}OC(O)CH{sub 3} + HO{sub 2} + 3NO{sub 2}. These results are discussed in terms of the reactivity of these compounds in urban atmospheres.

• OSTI ID: 5675505
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (USA), Vol. 25:3; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BUTYL ETHER
OXIDATION
ETHYL ETHER
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FORMALDEHYDE
FORMATES
FUEL ADDITIVES
HYDROXYL RADICALS
MEASURING METHODS
ADDITIVES
ALDEHYDES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DATA
ETHERS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADICALS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)