Atmospheric chemistry of toxic contaminants 2. Saturated aliphatics: Acetaldehyde, dioxane, ethylene glycol ethers, propylene oxide

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.1990.10466803· OSTI ID:5936187

Grosjean, D ^[1]

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1. DGA, Inc., Ventura, CA (United States)

Detailed mechanisms are outlined for the chemical reactions that contribute to in-situ formation and atmospheric removal of the saturated aliphatic contaminants acetaldehyde, dioxane, ethylene glycol ethers (methyl, ethyl, n-butyl) and propylene oxide. In-situ formation is of major importance for acetaldehyde. In-situ removal involves reaction with OH (all compounds) and, for acetaldehyde, photolysis and reaction with NO{sub 3}. Acetaldehyde, dioxane, and the ethers are rapidly removed (half-lives of less than one day), leading to PAN (acetaldehyde) and to 2-oxodioxane and formaldehyde (dioxane). Reaction products of the glycol ethers include a large number of hydroxyesters, hydroxyacids, and hydroxycarbonyls. Propylene oxide reacts only slowly with OH, with an atmospheric half-life of 3 - 10 days, to yeild formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and PAN. Uncertainties in the reaction mechanisms for dioxane, the glycol ethers, and propylene oxide are discussed and include C-C vs C-O bond scission in alkoxy radicals as well as alkoxy radical unimolecular decomposition vs reaction with oxygen.

• OSTI ID: 5936187
• Journal Information: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (United States), Vol. 40:11; ISSN 1047-3289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
ACETALDEHYDE
DIOXANE
ETHERS
GLYCOLS
NITRATES
PHOTOLYSIS
PROPYLENE
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
ALKENES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DECOMPOSITION
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)