The photo-oxidations of propyl acetates in synthetic air-HONO-NO x mixtures: Product formation studies and proposed kinetic mechanisms

The formation of products following the hydroxyl radical initiated photo-oxidations of n-and isopropyl acetates has been studied. Mixtures of synthetic air containing a few ppm of nitrous acid, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and one of the propyl acetates were irradiated with sunlamps in a Teflon bag smog chamber. The decay of reactants and the formation of products was monitored by chemiluminescent analysis or by gas chromatography. The major primary products from the photo-oxidation of n-propyl acetate are acetaldehyde and propionaldehyde while from isopropyl acetate they are acetone and methyl nitrate. It was not possible to analyse for formaldehyde, an expected primary product in these systems. The nature and distribution of products indicate that a significant fraction of primary products arise from decomposition reactions of the alkoxy-type radicals generated following the initial attack of hydroxyl radicals on the esters. The derived reaction stoichiometries (molecules of NO oxidised per molecule of ester reacted) are also consistent with the proposed mechanisms.