Issue 21, 2020

Time-resolved, broadband UV-absorption spectrometry measurements of Criegee intermediate kinetics using a new photolytic precursor: unimolecular decomposition of CH2OO and its reaction with formic acid

Abstract

We present a time-resolved broadband cavity-enhanced UV-absorption spectrometer apparatus that we have constructed and utilized for temperature- and pressure-dependent kinetic measurements of formaldehyde oxide (CH2OO) reactions. We also introduce and utilize a new photolytic precursor, bromoiodomethane (CH2IBr), which photolysis at 213 nm in presence of O2 produces CH2OO. Importantly, this precursor appears to be free from secondary reactions that may regenerate CH2OO in kinetic experiments. The unimolecular decomposition rate coefficient of CH2OO has been measured over wide pressure (5–400 Torr) and temperature (296–600 K) ranges and master equation simulations of the decomposition kinetics have been performed using MESMER program. The MESMER simulations of the experimental data with the calculated zero-point energy corrected transition state energy 85.9 kJ mol−1 for decomposition required no adjustment and returned 〈ΔEdown = 123.2 × (T/298 K)0.74 cm−1 for temperature-dependent exponential-down model of the collisional energy transfer in He. A very good agreement between results of simulations and experiments is obtained. The results are compared with the previously reported unimolecular decomposition study by Stone et al. (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2018, 20, 24940–24954). Current master equation simulations suggest about 61% decomposition yield for the predominant H2 + CO2 channel, whereas the yields of two other channels, H2O + CO, and HCO + OH, are sensitive on the parameters involved in the simulations. The kinetics of CH2OO reaction with formic acid has also been investigated as function of pressure (5–150 Torr) and temperature (296–458 K). The bimolecular rate coefficient for CH2OO + HCOOH reaction shows a negative temperature dependency, decreasing from (1.0 ± 0.03) × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 at 296 K to (0.47 ± 0.05) × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 at 458 K with an Arrhenius activation energy of −4.9 ± 1.6 kJ mol−1, where statistical uncertainties shown are 2σ. Estimated overall uncertainty in the measured rate coefficients is about ±20%. Current bimolecular rate coefficient at room temperature agrees with the previously reported rate coefficients from the direct kinetic experiments. The reaction is found to be pressure independent over the range between 5 and 150 Torr at 296 K in He.

Graphical abstract: Time-resolved, broadband UV-absorption spectrometry measurements of Criegee intermediate kinetics using a new photolytic precursor: unimolecular decomposition of CH2OO and its reaction with formic acid

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Jan 2020
Accepted
06 Apr 2020
First published
07 Apr 2020
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 11797-11808

Time-resolved, broadband UV-absorption spectrometry measurements of Criegee intermediate kinetics using a new photolytic precursor: unimolecular decomposition of CH2OO and its reaction with formic acid

J. Peltola, P. Seal, A. Inkilä and A. Eskola, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22, 11797 DOI: 10.1039/D0CP00302F

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