Atmospheric breakdown kinetics and air quality impact of potential “green” solvents, the oxymethylene ethers OME3 and OME4

<p>Laboratory-based experiments were used to investigate the atmospheric degradation chemistry of two oxymethylene ethers, CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span>O(CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O...

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Main Authors: J. D'Souza Metcalf, R. K. Winkless, C. Mapelli, C. R. McElroy, C. Roman, C. Arsene, R. I. Olariu, I. G. Bejan, T. J. Dillon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-08-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/9169/2025/acp-25-9169-2025.pdf
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author J. D'Souza Metcalf
J. D'Souza Metcalf
R. K. Winkless
C. Mapelli
C. Mapelli
C. Mapelli
C. R. McElroy
C. R. McElroy
C. Roman
C. Roman
C. Arsene
C. Arsene
C. Arsene
R. I. Olariu
R. I. Olariu
R. I. Olariu
I. G. Bejan
I. G. Bejan
T. J. Dillon
author_facet J. D'Souza Metcalf
J. D'Souza Metcalf
R. K. Winkless
C. Mapelli
C. Mapelli
C. Mapelli
C. R. McElroy
C. R. McElroy
C. Roman
C. Roman
C. Arsene
C. Arsene
C. Arsene
R. I. Olariu
R. I. Olariu
R. I. Olariu
I. G. Bejan
I. G. Bejan
T. J. Dillon
author_sort J. D'Souza Metcalf
collection DOAJ
description <p>Laboratory-based experiments were used to investigate the atmospheric degradation chemistry of two oxymethylene ethers, CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span>O(CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O)<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span>CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span> (OME3) and CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span>O(CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O)<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span>CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span> (OME4). OME3 and OME4 have been proposed as promising “green” replacement compounds for problematic ethereal solvents such as 1,4-dioxane and tetrahydrofuran. Results from direct, absolute laser-based experiments and from a series of complementary relative rate studies demonstrated that OH <span class="inline-formula">+</span> OME3 proceeded with a rate coefficient <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i><sub>3</sub></span>(296 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 2 K) <span class="inline-formula">=</span> (1.0 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 0.2) <span class="inline-formula">×</span> 10<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−11</sup></span> cm<span class="inline-formula"><sup>3</sup></span> molec.<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>, a factor of 2 smaller than predicted by structure activity relationships (SARs). Evidence for a complex mechanism was provided by <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i><sub>3</sub></span>(294–464 K), characterised by deviations from Arrhenius-like behaviour close to room temperature. A further series of relative rate experiments were used to determine a rate coefficient of <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i><sub>4</sub></span>(296 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 2 K) <span class="inline-formula">=</span> (1.1 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 0.4) <span class="inline-formula">×</span> 10<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−11</sup></span> cm<span class="inline-formula"><sup>3</sup></span> molec.<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> for OH <span class="inline-formula">+</span> OME4. These results allowed for lifetimes, <span class="inline-formula"><i>τ</i>≈1</span> d, to be estimated for the removal of each of OME3 and OME4 from the troposphere. The photochemical ozone creation potential estimate (POCP<span class="inline-formula"><sub>E</sub></span>) was calculated for northwest Europe conditions. These were considerably smaller than equivalent metrics for the problematic solvents they may replace, largely owing to their lack of C–C bonds. In the course of this work, rate coefficients (in 10<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−11</sup></span> cm<span class="inline-formula"><sup>3</sup></span> molec.<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup>)</span> were determined for Cl <span class="inline-formula">+</span> OME3, <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i><sub>6</sub></span>(296 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 2 K) <span class="inline-formula">=</span> (17 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 4), and for Cl <span class="inline-formula">+</span> OME4, <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i><sub>7</sub></span>(296 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 2 K) <span class="inline-formula">=</span> (19 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 6).</p>
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spelling doaj-art-d764fe5c8b2546b4a27489d6536f54432025-08-22T12:47:31ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242025-08-01259169918110.5194/acp-25-9169-2025Atmospheric breakdown kinetics and air quality impact of potential “green” solvents, the oxymethylene ethers OME3 and OME4J. D'Souza Metcalf0J. D'Souza Metcalf1R. K. Winkless2C. Mapelli3C. Mapelli4C. Mapelli5C. R. McElroy6C. R. McElroy7C. Roman8C. Roman9C. Arsene10C. Arsene11C. Arsene12R. I. Olariu13R. I. Olariu14R. I. Olariu15I. G. Bejan16I. G. Bejan17T. J. Dillon18Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UKGreen Chemistry Centre of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UKWolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UKWolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UKGreen Chemistry Centre of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UKnow at: National Reasearch Council – Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (IMAA), Tito Scalo, Potenza, 85050, ItalyGreen Chemistry Centre of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UKnow at: Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UKFaculty of Chemistry, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, RomaniaResearch Center with Integrated Techniques for Atmospheric Aerosol Investigation in Romania (RECENT-AIR), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 11th Carol I, 700506, Iași, RomaniaFaculty of Chemistry, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, RomaniaResearch Center with Integrated Techniques for Atmospheric Aerosol Investigation in Romania (RECENT-AIR), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 11th Carol I, 700506, Iași, RomaniaIntegrated Center of Environmental Science Studies in the North Eastern Region (CERNESIM), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, RomaniaFaculty of Chemistry, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, RomaniaResearch Center with Integrated Techniques for Atmospheric Aerosol Investigation in Romania (RECENT-AIR), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 11th Carol I, 700506, Iași, RomaniaIntegrated Center of Environmental Science Studies in the North Eastern Region (CERNESIM), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, RomaniaFaculty of Chemistry, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, RomaniaIntegrated Center of Environmental Science Studies in the North Eastern Region (CERNESIM), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, RomaniaWolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK<p>Laboratory-based experiments were used to investigate the atmospheric degradation chemistry of two oxymethylene ethers, CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span>O(CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O)<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span>CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span> (OME3) and CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span>O(CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>O)<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span>CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>3</sub></span> (OME4). OME3 and OME4 have been proposed as promising “green” replacement compounds for problematic ethereal solvents such as 1,4-dioxane and tetrahydrofuran. Results from direct, absolute laser-based experiments and from a series of complementary relative rate studies demonstrated that OH <span class="inline-formula">+</span> OME3 proceeded with a rate coefficient <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i><sub>3</sub></span>(296 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 2 K) <span class="inline-formula">=</span> (1.0 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 0.2) <span class="inline-formula">×</span> 10<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−11</sup></span> cm<span class="inline-formula"><sup>3</sup></span> molec.<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span>, a factor of 2 smaller than predicted by structure activity relationships (SARs). Evidence for a complex mechanism was provided by <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i><sub>3</sub></span>(294–464 K), characterised by deviations from Arrhenius-like behaviour close to room temperature. A further series of relative rate experiments were used to determine a rate coefficient of <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i><sub>4</sub></span>(296 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 2 K) <span class="inline-formula">=</span> (1.1 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 0.4) <span class="inline-formula">×</span> 10<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−11</sup></span> cm<span class="inline-formula"><sup>3</sup></span> molec.<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> for OH <span class="inline-formula">+</span> OME4. These results allowed for lifetimes, <span class="inline-formula"><i>τ</i>≈1</span> d, to be estimated for the removal of each of OME3 and OME4 from the troposphere. The photochemical ozone creation potential estimate (POCP<span class="inline-formula"><sub>E</sub></span>) was calculated for northwest Europe conditions. These were considerably smaller than equivalent metrics for the problematic solvents they may replace, largely owing to their lack of C–C bonds. In the course of this work, rate coefficients (in 10<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−11</sup></span> cm<span class="inline-formula"><sup>3</sup></span> molec.<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> s<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup>)</span> were determined for Cl <span class="inline-formula">+</span> OME3, <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i><sub>6</sub></span>(296 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 2 K) <span class="inline-formula">=</span> (17 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 4), and for Cl <span class="inline-formula">+</span> OME4, <span class="inline-formula"><i>k</i><sub>7</sub></span>(296 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 2 K) <span class="inline-formula">=</span> (19 <span class="inline-formula">±</span> 6).</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/9169/2025/acp-25-9169-2025.pdf
spellingShingle J. D'Souza Metcalf
J. D'Souza Metcalf
R. K. Winkless
C. Mapelli
C. Mapelli
C. Mapelli
C. R. McElroy
C. R. McElroy
C. Roman
C. Roman
C. Arsene
C. Arsene
C. Arsene
R. I. Olariu
R. I. Olariu
R. I. Olariu
I. G. Bejan
I. G. Bejan
T. J. Dillon
Atmospheric breakdown kinetics and air quality impact of potential “green” solvents, the oxymethylene ethers OME3 and OME4
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Atmospheric breakdown kinetics and air quality impact of potential “green” solvents, the oxymethylene ethers OME3 and OME4
title_full Atmospheric breakdown kinetics and air quality impact of potential “green” solvents, the oxymethylene ethers OME3 and OME4
title_fullStr Atmospheric breakdown kinetics and air quality impact of potential “green” solvents, the oxymethylene ethers OME3 and OME4
title_full_unstemmed Atmospheric breakdown kinetics and air quality impact of potential “green” solvents, the oxymethylene ethers OME3 and OME4
title_short Atmospheric breakdown kinetics and air quality impact of potential “green” solvents, the oxymethylene ethers OME3 and OME4
title_sort atmospheric breakdown kinetics and air quality impact of potential green solvents the oxymethylene ethers ome3 and ome4
url https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/9169/2025/acp-25-9169-2025.pdf
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