Hydrochloroethers in the troposphere: Kinetics with Cl atoms, lifetimes and atmospheric acceptability indices

Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of chlorine atoms with 2-chloroethyl ethyl ether (k1) and bis(2-chloroethyl) ether (k2) were determined for the first time using a conventional relative rate technique. Experiments were carried out at (298 ± 2) K and atmospheric pressure using synthetic air as bath gas. The decay rates of the hydrochloroethers were measured relative to those of n-pentane and n-heptane. The following rate constants were derived in units of cm3 molecule−1 s−1: k1 = (1.7 ± 0.5) × 10−10 and k2 = (1.0 ± 0.3) × 10−10. The rate constants obtained are compared with previous literature data to indicate reactivity trends and are used to estimate the global atmospheric lifetimes (τglobal) of the studied hydrochloroethers. Radiative forcing efficiencies (RE) of the ethers were determined from their integrated IR absorption cross-sections. Using τglobal and RE, estimations were made of atmospheric hazard indices of the two chlorinated ethers such as the ozone depletion potential (ODP) and the global warming potential (GWP).

► Rate constants for reactions of Cl with two hydrochloroethers.
► Reactivity trends are discussed.
► Atmospheric lifetimes and global warming potentials of the ethers are calculated.