Atmospheric fate of a series of furanaldehydes by their NO3 reactions

The kinetics of the reactions of the NO3 radical with 2-furanaldehyde, 3-furanaldehyde and 5-methyl-2-furanaldehyde have been measured at 298 ± 2 K and 760 Torr of total pressure using a relative kinetic method. The simultaneous losses of furanaldehydes and a reference compound were followed by FTIR spectroscopy. The rate constants obtained for the NO3 reactions are (in cm3 molecule−1 s−1): (1.20 ± 0.28) × 10−12 for 2-furanaldehyde, (3.41 ± 0.79) × 10−12 for 3-furanaldehyde and (5.51 ± 1.27) × 10−12 for 5-methyl-2-furanaldehyde. This study is the first determination of the rate constants for the reaction of NO3 radicals with furanaldehydes. The results are presented and discussed in terms of structure-reactivity relationships. Calculated atmospheric lifetimes reveal that the night-time reaction with the nitrate radical is the most important loss process for these kinds of compounds.

► Rate coefficients for reactions of NO3 with furanaldehydes have been determined.
► A relative method with FTIR technique has been used as detection.
► Nitrate radical, is the major sink for the furanaldehydes in the atmosphere.