Rates of hydroxy radical reactions with methane, ethane and propane over the temperature range 403–696 K

Abstract

Rate constant ratios have been measured over the range 403–696 K for the reactions OH + CO → CO₂+ H OH + RH → H₂O + R where RH = CH₄, C₂H₆, and C₃H₈.

Hydroxy radicals were generated by photolysis of water vapour at 184.9 nm. Measurement of the CO₂ yield as a function of [RH]/[CO] afforded values of the rate constant ratios.

The results also indicate that the rate constant for CO₂ production shows no detectable change with pressure over the range 2850–12 600 N m^–2 at these temperatures.