OH radical reactivity of airborne terbuthylazine adsorbed on inert aerosol

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

The reaction of terbuthylazine (TBA) with OH radicals was investigated in an aerosol smog chamber (2400 L). TBA was adsorbed well below a monalayer on silicon dioxide as inert carrier. OH radicals were produced from hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. The OH concentrations span a region of 105 ≤ c(OH)/cm-3 ≤ 107 and were monitored by the consumption of butane, 2,2-dimethylbutene, pentafluorobenzene, 2,2,4,4-tetramethylbutane, and toluene as reference compounds. The OH rate constant of TBA obtained from nine smog chamber runs at T = 300 K on the aerosol is k(OH)(TBA) = (1.1 ± 0.2) x 10-11 cm3 s-1. Beside the OH reaction, a loss path not initiated by OH radicals was found (k = (1.9 ± 0.5) x 10-5 s-1), which can be explained only in part by loss processes observed in the dark. Using the OH rate constant determined on the aerosol as an estimate for the corresponding OH reaction in the environment, a half-life of about 1 day (with OH concentrations of 5-10 x 105 cm-3) is obtained. Using the UV spectrum of TBA in hexene or in aqueous solution and known sunlight intensities e negligible loss by direct irradiation can be estimated. Furthermore, the ozone reactivity at T = 300 K was measured to be negligible, too (k(O3)(TBA) ≤ 5 x 10-19 cm3 s-1). Hence, abiotic degradation of TBA in the environment (and assumed for all other chlorotriazines) is mainly attributed to OH radicals in the atmosphere. The main product of the OH radical reaction found on the aerosol is the corresponding acetyl-TBA, in addition to the des- alkylation product desethyl-TBA.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume31
Issue number12
Pages (from-to)3389-3396
Number of pages8
ISSN0013-936X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.12.1997
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Chemistry - Aerosols, Kinetic parameters, Pest control, Reactivity, Triazine

DOI