[Kinetic studies on the gas-phase reactions of NO3 radicals with three cyclic ethers].

Kinetics of the reaction of NO3 radicals with tetrahydrofuran, 1, 3-dioxolane and 1, 4-dioxane at 298 K +/- 1 K and 1.01 x 10(5) Pa were investigated using a relative rate method in a self-made Teflon chamber. The objective of this study was to assess the possible impact of these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on the environment by studying their atmospheric degradation kinetics. Using gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector(GC/FID), the measured reaction rate constant for NO3 with tetrahydrofuran was (5.36 +/- 1.93) x 10(-3) cm (molecule x s)(-1), which is in good agreement with the reported values, indicating the reliability of our experiment setup and methods. The reactions of NO3 radicals with 1, 3-dioxolane and 1, 4-dioxane were studied for the first time and the measured rate constants were (1.84 +/- 0.70) x 10(-15) cm3 x (molecule x s)(-1) and (3.20 +/- 0.67) x 10(16) cm3 x (molecule x s)(-1), respectively. The atmospheric lifetimes of these compounds have also been estimated based on the measured rate constants, which indicate that emissions of these compounds may have an impact on regional atmospheric environment.