Acid-yield measurements of the gas-phase ozonolysis of ethene as a function of humidity using Chemical Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (CIMS)

Abstract

Gas-phase ethene ozonolysis experiments were conducted at room temperature to determine formic acid yields as a function of relative humidity (RH) using the integrated EXTreme RAnge chamber-Chemical Ionisation Mass Spectrometry technique, employing a CH 3I ionisation scheme. RHs studied were <1, 11, 21, 27, 30% and formic acid yields of (0.07±0.01) and (0.41±0.07) were determined at <1% RH and 30% RH respectively, showing a strong water dependence. It has been possible to estimate the ratio of the rate coefficient for the reaction of the Criegee biradical, CH 2OO with water compared with decomposition. This analysis suggests that the rate of reaction with water ranges between 1×10 -12-1×10 -15 cm 3 molecule -1 s -1 and will therefore dominate its loss with respect to bimolecular processes in the atmosphere. Global model integrations suggest that this reaction between CH 2OO and water may dominate the production of HC(O)OH in the atmosphere. © 2012 Author(s).