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SUMMARY:Comprehensive laboratory studies of hydrocarbon oxidation mechanis
 ms - Dr Max McGillen\, Bristol University
DTSTART:20161107T141500Z
DTEND:20161107T151500Z
UID:TALK67849@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Alex Archibald
DESCRIPTION:The phenomenon of air pollution is underpinned by a rich chemi
 stry that is largely determined by the interplay between anthropogenic and
  biogenic emissions into the atmosphere. Central to this chemistry are the
  oxidation reactions of hydrocarbons\, which play a pivotal role in determ
 ining the capacity of a hydrocarbon to pollute the air. However\, quantita
 tive and complete measurements of the mechanisms by which oxidation occurs
  are very uncommon\, especially as a function of temperature.\n\nA compreh
 ensive study of one such mechanism\, that of i-butanol with the OH radical
 \, will be presented. In this example\, multiple branching and sequential 
 oxidation reactions lead to different end products that are determined by 
 the initial site of OH attack. These branching ratios are found to exhibit
  temperature dependence\, and therefore\, under real-world conditions woul
 d lead to an end product distribution that changes according to both the t
 ime and location of i-butanol emission. Accordingly\, a parameterization o
 f this temperature dependence is developed\, whereby product branching rat
 ios can be estimated accurately throughout the atmospheric temperature ran
 ge.\n\nAlthough this is a satisfying result\, it is acknowledged that in t
 his case these data are hard-won. In fact\, i-butanol provides a concise s
 ummary of the kinds of challenges associated with studying atmospheric che
 mistry in a chamber environment\, notably: secondary chemistry\, convergen
 t (non-unique) product formation\, reservoir species and side chemistry. A
 ccordingly\, the latter part of this seminar will explore the potential of
  chemistries besides “atmospheric chemistry” to study oxidation reacti
 ons and how these types of experiments might complement conventional chamb
 er experiments.\n\n
LOCATION:Pfizer Lecture Theatre\, Department of Chemistry
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