Sarzyński, Dariusz S., et al. Chemical Physics Letters, 2014, 597, 86-93.
This work used the relative rate method to measure the total rate constant (kH) for the hydrogen abstraction reaction [ CH2ClCH2Cl + Cl → CH2ClCHCl + HCl (1)] and the total rate constant (kD) for the reaction of fully deuterated 1,2-dichloroethane [CD2ClCD2Cl + Cl → CD2ClCDCl + DCl (2)]. By independently measuring the ratio of the relative rate constants of reactions (1) and (2) at the same temperature, the kinetic isotope effect (KIE) can be determined, which is defined as the ratio of kH/kD. KIE values provide useful information for interpreting the stable isotopic composition of organic compounds in the atmosphere.
Gas-phase reaction experiments
· The gas-phase reactions of chlorine atoms with 1,2-dichloroethane and 1,2-dichloroethane-d4 were studied between 298 and 528.5 K, using chloromethane as a reference. In all experiments, the concentration ratios of CH2ClCH2Cl and CD2ClCD2Cl to CH3Cl were approximately 1:1. Experiments were conducted at a total pressure of 100 Torr, with Cl2 partial pressures ranging from 4.7 to 5.1 Torr (0.8-1.7 × 1017 molecule cm-3).
· At 298 and 528.5 K, experiments were repeated at 750 Torr total pressure, with CH2ClCH2Cl, CD2ClCD2Cl, and CH3Cl partial pressures between 2.4 and 2.6 Torr (0.4-0.9 × 1017 molecule cm-3).
· Chlorine atoms were generated by Cl2 photolysis at 330 nm, the wavelength of maximum Cl2 molar extinction. The Cl atom concentration was not determined. Irradiation times (10 s to 30 min) and bandwidths (10 or 20 nm) were adjusted based on reaction temperature to achieve suitable reactant conversions, which ranged from 2% to nearly 90% for CH2ClCH2Cl + Cl, 2% to 75% for CD2ClCD2Cl + Cl, and 1% to 80% for CH3Cl + Cl.