Laboratory Kinetics (LK) Group

LK Group Members:

• Geoff Tyndall
• John Orlando

   

Summary of Activities:

John Orlando and Geoffrey Tyndall have been heavily involved in writing a reference book Mechanisms of Atmospheric Oxidation of the Alkanes. Co-authors in the project are Jack Calvert (Emeritus ACD), Dick Derwent (RGD Consulting, Bracknell , UK ) and Tim Wallington (Ford Motor Company). The project is partially funded by the Coordinating Research Council. The book includes summaries and recommendations for the kinetics of OH, Cl and NO 3 with alkanes and their first generation reaction products; photolysis data for the reaction products; evaluated data for the peroxy and oxy radicals involved in the oxidation; in depth discussions of the reaction mechanims of the common alkanes; and a discussion of the treatment of alkane chemistry in atmospheric models on different scales. The book builds upon the experimental data acquired in the ACD labs over the years particularly with regard to peroxy and alkoxy radical chemistry. Because of the relatively long lifetimes of the alkanes, special attention is paid to the chemistry at the lower temperatures found in the free troposphere. The book, which should be completed in the Fall of 2006, will be a valuable resource for scientists working on the chemistry of organics in both polluted and clean areas. This has a bearing on both regional and global pollution.