Search

Chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ClPAHs) have become a serious environmental concern due to their widespread occurrence and dioxin-like toxicities. In this work, the mechanism of the OH-initiated atmospheric oxidation degradation of 9,10-dichlorophenanthrene (9,10-Cl₂Phe) was investigated by using high-accuracy quantum chemistry calculations. The rate constants of the crucial elementary reactions were determined by the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theory. The theoretical results were compared with the available experimental data. The main oxidation products are a group of ring-retaining and ring-opening compounds including chlorophenanthrols, 9,10-dichlorophenanthrene-3,4-dione, dialdehydes, chlorophenanthrenequinones, nitro-9,10-Cl₂Phe and epoxides et al. The overall rate constant of the OH addition reaction is 2.35 × 10(-12)cm(3) molecule(-1)s(-1) at 298 K and 1 atm. The atmospheric lifetime of 9,10-Cl₂Phe determined by OH radicals is about 5.05 days. This study provides a comprehensive investigation of the OH-initiated oxidation degradation of 9,10-Cl₂Phe and should contribute to clarifying its atmospheric fate., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Cl-initiated oxidation reactions of methyl vinyl ether (MVE) are analyzed by using the high-level composite method CBS-QB3. Detailed chemistry for the reactions of MVE with chlorine atoms is proposed according to the calculated thermodynamic data. The primary eight channels, including two Cl-addition reactions and six H-abstraction reactions, are discussed. In accordance with the further investigation of the two dominant additional routes, formyl chloride and formaldehyde are the major products. Over the temperature range of 200-400 K and the pressure range of 100-2000 Torr, the rate constants of primary reactions are calculated by employing the MESMER program. H-abstraction channels are negligible according to the value of rate constants. During the studied temperature range, the Arrhenius equation is obtained as ktot = 5.64 × 10(-11) exp(215.1/T). The total rate coefficient is ktot = 1.25 × 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) at 298 K and 760 Torr. Finally, the atmospheric lifetime of MVE with respect to Cl is estimated to be 2.23 h.

OH radical-initiated atmospheric oxidation of ethyl acrylate (ethyl 2-propenoate, EA) has been investigated by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Optimizations of the reactants, intermediates, transition states and products were carried out at the MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level. Single-point energy calculations were performed at the MPWB1K/6-311+G(3df,2p) level of theory. The detailed oxidation mechanism was presented and discussed. The results show that the OH addition is more energetically favorable than the H abstraction. Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theory was used to predict the rate constants over the possible atmospheric temperature range of 180-370 K. The Arrhenius expression adequately describes the total rate constant: k(EA+OH)=(1.71×10(-12))exp(805.42/T)cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). At 298 K, the atmospheric lifetime of ethyl acrylate determined by OH radicals is about 16.2h. In order to find out the effect of alkyl substitution on the reaction activity, rate constants for the reactions of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate with OH radicals were also discussed. Calculation results show that the reaction activity may increase with the increased electron-donating substitution for electrophilic addition reaction., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The hydroxylation reactions of ethyl vinyl ether (EVE) in the present of O2 and NO are analyzed by using MPWB1K/6-311++G(3df,2p)//MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. According to the calculated thermodynamic data, the detailed reaction mechanisms of EVE and OH are proposed. All of the ten possible reaction pathways are discussed. The major products of the title reaction are ethyl formate and formaldehyde, which is in accordance with experimental detection. The rate constants of the primary reactions over the temperature of 250-400K and the pressure range of 100-2000Torr are computed by employing MESMER program. At 298K and 760Torr, OH-addition channels are predominate and the total rate constant is ktot=4.53×10(-11)cm(3)molecule(-1)s(-1). The Arrhenius equation is obtained as ktot=6.27×10(-12)exp(611.5/T), according to the rate constants given at different temperatures. Finally, the atmospheric half life of EVE with respect to OH is estimated to be 2.13h., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The atmospheric oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can generate toxic derivatives which contribute to the carcinogenic potential of particulate organic matter. In this work, the mechanism of the OH-initiated atmospheric oxidation of fluoranthene (Flu) was investigated by using high-accuracy molecular orbital calculations. All of the possible oxidation pathways were discussed, and the theoretical results were compared with the available experimental observation. The rate constants of the crucial elementary reactions were evaluated by the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theory. The main oxidation products are a range of ring-retaining and ring-opening chemicals containing fluoranthols, fluoranthones, fluoranthenequinones, nitro-fluoranthenes, dialdehydes and epoxides. The overall rate constant of the OH addition reaction is 1.72×10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) at 298 K and 1 atm. The atmospheric lifetime of Flu determined by OH radicals is about 0.69 days. This work provides a comprehensive investigation of the OH-initiated oxidation of Flu and should help to clarify its atmospheric conversion., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The atmospheric degradation reactions of the two isomers of methomyl (MTL) initiated by OH radical in the presence of O2, NO and H2O have been investigated by density functional theory (DFT). The calculations were all carried out at MPWB1K level. The geometrical parameters and vibrational frequencies of stationary points were calculated with 6-31+G (d, p) basis sets. Single-point energy calculations were performed with 6-311+G (3df, 2p) basis sets. Profiles of the potential energy surface were constructed and all possible channels involved in the reactions were discussed. The rate constants of main elementary reactions were calculated over a temperature range of 200-400 K and mostly fitted to Arrhenius formulas. The atmospheric lifetimes of reaction species were discussed for the first time, which can be applied to the study on model simulation and management of hazardous materials., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The atmospheric OH-initiated degradation mechanisms of dimethy phthalate (DMP) are analyzed at the MPWB1K/6-311++G(3df,2p)//MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory. The principal products detected experimentally are confirmed by this study while several major intermediates are reported for the first time. Additionally, the pathway scheme of hydroxylation reaction of DMP is proposed. The results about initial steps indicate that hydroxyl radical is most likely to be added to the ortho-carbon atom among additional reactions, while H atoms in methyl group are the most favorable to be abstracted by the OH radical. The rate constants of the elementary reactions over the temperature of 200-400 K were deduced using RRKM theory. The overall rate constant of the title reaction is 1.18×10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) at 298 K and 760 Torr while H abstraction reactions predominate. According to the rate constants given at different temperatures, the Arrhenius equation is fitted. The atmospheric half life of DMP with respect to OH is estimated to be 6.8 days., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The ozonolysis of 2,3,7,8-tetra-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) is an efficient degradation way in the atmosphere. The ozonolysis process and possible reactions path of Criegee Intermediates with NO and H2O are introduced in detail at the method of MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p)//MPWB1K/6-311+G(3df,2p) level. In ozonolysis, H2O is an important source of OH radical formation and initiated the subsequent degradation reaction. The Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theory was applied to calculate rate constants with the temperature ranging from 200 to 600 K. The rate constant of reaction between 2,3,7,8-TCDD and O3 is 4.80 x 10(-20) cm3/(mole x sec) at 298 K and 760 Torr. The atmospheric lifetime of the reaction species was estimated according to rate constants, which is helpful for the atmospheric model study on the degradation and risk assessment of dioxin.