Kinetic study of OH radical reactions with volatile organic compounds using relative rate/discharge fast flow/mass spectrometer technique

The combination of the relative rate method with the discharge fast flow/mass spectrometer technique (RR/DF/MS) has been developed to measure the rate constants for gas phase reactions involving OH radicals. The RR/DF/MS technique was used to measure the rate constant for reactions of the OH radical with n-octane (k3) and cyclohexane (k5) using 1,4-dioxane as a reference compound, and with n-decane (k12) using n-octane and 1,4-dioxane as reference compounds. At 298 K, these rate constants were determined to be k3=(8.88±0.31) × 10−12, k5=(6.95±0.20) × 10−12, and k12=(1.38±0.08) × 10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, respectively, which are in very good agreement with those measured using different techniques. The features of the RR/DF/MS technique are discussed.