Atmospheric chemistry of C4F9O(CH2)3OC4F9 and CF3CFHCF2O(CH2)3OCF3CFHCF2: Lifetimes, degradation products, and environmental impact

FTIR smog chamber techniques were used to measure k(Cl + CF3CFHCF2O(CH2)3OCF2CFHCF3) = (2.97 ± 0.17) × 10−12, k(OH + CF3CFHCF2O(CH2)3OCF2CFHCF3) = (2.45 ± 0.14) × 10−13, k(Cl + C4F9O(CH2)3OC4F9) = (1.45 ± 0.16) × 10−12, and k(OH + C4F9O(CH2)3OC4F9) = (1.44 ± 0.10) × 10−13 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 in 700 Torr of air at 296 K. The atmospheric lifetimes of CF3CFHCF2O(CH2)3OCF2CFHCF3 and C4F9O(CH2)3OC4F9 with respect to reaction with OH radicals are estimated to be 46 and 83 days, respectively. In 700 Torr of N2/O2 diluent at 296 K, decomposition via CC bond scission and reaction with O2 are competing loss mechanisms for the alkoxy radicals ROCH(O)CH2CH2OR and ROCH2CH(O)CH2OR (R = C4F9, CF3CFHCF2).