The reaction of Criegee intermediate CH2OO with water dimer: Primary products and atmospheric impact

Leonid Sheps*, Brandon Rotavera, Arkke J. Eskola, David L. Osborn, Craig A. Taatjes, Kendrew Au, Dudley E. Shallcross, M. Anwar H. Khan, Carl J. Percival

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    The rapid reaction of the smallest Criegee intermediate, CH2OO, with water dimers is the dominant removal mechanism for CH2OO in the Earth's atmosphere, but its products are not well understood. This reaction was recently suggested as a significant source of the most abundant tropospheric organic acid, formic acid (HCOOH), which is consistently underpredicted by atmospheric models. However, using time-resolved measurements of reaction kinetics by UV absorption and product analysis by photoionization mass spectrometry, we show that the primary products of this reaction are formaldehyde and hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide (HMHP), with direct HCOOH yields of less than 10%. Incorporating our results into a global chemistry-transport model further reduces HCOOH levels by 10-90%, relative to previous modeling assumptions, which indicates that the reaction CH2OO + water dimer by itself cannot resolve the discrepancy between the measured and predicted HCOOH levels.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)21970-21979
    Number of pages10
    JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics
    Volume19
    Issue number33
    Early online date4 Aug 2017
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2017

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'The reaction of Criegee intermediate CH2OO with water dimer: Primary products and atmospheric impact'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this