Atmospheric chemistry of the phenoxy radical, C6H5O(•): UV spectrum and kinetics of its reaction with NO, NO2, and O2

J. Platz*, O. J. Nielsen, T. J. Wallington, J. C. Ball, M. D. Hurley, A. M. Straccia, W. F. Schneider, J. Sehested

*Corresponding author for this work
89 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Pulse radiolysis and FT-IR smog chamber experiments were used to investigate the atmospheric fate of C6H5O(•) radicals. Pulse radiolysis experiments gave σ(C6H5O(•))235 nm = (3.82 ± 0.48) × 10-17 cm2 molecule-1, k(C6H5O(•) + NO) = (1.88 ± 0.16) × 10-12, and k(C6H5O(•) + NO2) = (2.08 ± 0.15) × 10-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 at 296 K in 1000 mbar of SF6 diluent. No discernible reaction of C6H5O(•) radicals with O2 was observed in smog chamber experiments, and we derive an upper limit of k(C6H5O(•) + O2) < 5 × 10-21 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 at 296 K. These results imply that the atmospheric fate of phenoxy radicals in urban air masses is reaction with NOx. Density functional calculations and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry are used to identify 4-phenoxyphenol as the major product of the self-reaction of C6H5O(•) radicals. As part of this study, relative rate techniques were used to measure rate constants for reaction of Cl atoms with phenol [k(Cl + C6H5OH) = (1.93 ± 0.36) × 10-10], several chlorophenols [k(Cl + 2-chlorophenol) = (7.32 ± 1.30) × 10-12, k(Cl + 3-chlorophenol) = (1.56 ± 0.21) × 10-10, and k(Cl + 4-chlorophenol) = (2.37 ± 0.30) × 10-10], and benzoquinone [k(Cl + benzoquinone) = (1.94 ± 0.35) × 10-10], all in units of cm3 molecule-1 s-1. A reaction between molecular chlorine and C6H5OH to produce 2- and 4-chlorophenol in yields of (28 ± 3)% and (75 ± 4)% was observed. This reaction is probably heterogeneous in nature, and an upper limit of k(Cl2 + C6H5OH) ≤ 1.9 × 10-20 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 was established for the homogeneous component. These results are discussed with respect to the previous literature data and to the atmospheric chemistry of aromatic compounds.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry A
Volume102
Issue number41
Pages (from-to)7964-7974
Number of pages11
ISSN1089-5639
Publication statusPublished - 8 Oct 1998

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