Reaction Kinetics Research

The Environmental Engineering group established a reaction kinetics capability in the 1986 to examine the fundamental reactions that play a key role in the combustion of organic substances, specifically those organic compounds that impact human health when emitted into the atmosphere.

In our Reaction Kinetics Laboratory we apply a laser-based technique when evaluating the reaction rates of specific hazardous air pollutants with various reactive species, including OH radicals.  The rate measurements are directly applicable to tropospheric (that portion of our atmosphere below the stratosphere) and combustion chemistry. 

Reaction rates of atoms and free radicals with organic compounds are measured in the gas phase.  Ultraviolet laser photolysis is typically used to generate the atom or free radical; laser-induced fluorescence is used to monitor the behavior of the atom or free radical over time. Measurements are performed near atmospheric pressure and over extended temperature ranges, thus allowing us to characterize the Arrhenius behavior of a given reaction.

To learn more about reaction kinetics research applications in air pollution and combustion, please contact Phil Taylor or Takahiro Yamada.

Selected Publications

R. Ananthula, T. Yamada, and P. H. Taylor, “Kinetics of OH Radical Reaction with Phenanthrene: New Absolute Rate Measurements and Comparison with Other PAHs” International Journal of Chemical Kinetics, 39, 629, 2007.

P. H. Taylor, T. Yamada, and P. Marshall, “The Reaction of OH with Acetaldehyde and Deuterated Acetaldehyde:  Further Insight into the Reaction Mechanism at both Low and Elevated Temperatures” International Journal of Chemical Kinetics, 38, 489, 2006.

R. Ananthula, T. Yamada, and P. H. Taylor, “Kinetics of OH Radical Reaction with Anthracene and Anthracene-d10,” Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 110, 3559, 2006.

P. H. Taylor, R, Mallipeddi, and T. Yamada, “LP/LIF Study of the Formation and Consumption of Mercury (I) Chloride: Kinetics of Mercury Chlorination,” 61, 685, Chemosphere, 2005.

P. H. Taylor, T. Yamada, and A. J. Neuforth, “Kinetics of OH Radical Reactions with Dibenzo-p-dioxin and Selected Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins,” Chemosphere, 58, 243, 2004.

T. Yamada, P. H. Taylor, A. Goumri, and P. Marshall, “The Reaction of OH with Acetone and Acetone-d6 from 298 to 832 K:  Rate Coefficients and Mechanism,” Journal of Chemical Physics, 119, 10600, 2003.

T. Yamada, M. Siraj, and P. H. Taylor, J. Peng, X. Hu and P. Marshall, “Rate Coefficients and Mechanistic Analysis for Reaction of OH with Vinyl Chloride between 292 and 730 K,” Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 105, 9436, 2001.

T. Yamada, A. El-Sinawi, M. Siraj, and P. H. Taylor, J. Peng, X. Hu and P. Marshall, “Rate Coefficients and Mechanistic Analysis for Reaction of OH with 1,1-Dichloroethene and trans-1,2-Dichloroethene over an Extended Temperature Range,” Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 105, 7588, 2001.

L. B. Tichenor, A. El-Sinawi, T. Yamada, P. H. Taylor, J. Peng, X. Hu and P. Marshall, “Kinetic Studies of the Reaction of Hydroxyl Radicals with Trichloroethylene and Tetrachloroethylene,” Chemosphere, 42, 571, 2001.

L. B. Tichenor, A. J. Lozada-Ruiz, T. Yamada, P. H. Taylor, A. El-Sinawi, J. Peng, X. Hu and P. Marshall, “Reaction of Hydroxyl Radicals with Trichloroethylene:  Evidence for Chlorine Elimination Reactions at Elevated Temperatures,” Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, Vol. 28, p. 1495, The Combustion Institute, 2000.

T. Yamada, T. D. Fang, P. H. Taylor, and R. J. Berry, “Kinetics and Thermochemistry of OH Radical Reactions with CHCl2CF3 and CHFClCF3,” Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 104, 5013, 2000.

L. B. Tichenor, T. Yamada, P. H. Taylor, J. Peng, X. Hu and P. Marshall, “Kinetic and Modeling Studies of the Reaction of Hydroxyl Radicals with Tetrachloroethylene,” Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 104, 1700, 2000.

T. D. Fang, P. H. Taylor, and R. J. Berry, “Kinetics of the Reaction of OH Radicals with CH2ClCF2Cl and CH2ClCF3 over an Extended Temperature Range,” Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 103, 2700, 1999.

T. D. Fang, P. H. Taylor, B. Dellinger, C. Ehlers, and R. Berry, “Kinetics of the OH + CH3CF2Cl Reaction over an Extended Temperature Range,” Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 101, 5758, 1997.

M. Arif, B. Dellinger, and P. H. Taylor, “Rate Coefficients of Hydroxyl Radical Reaction with Dimethyl ether and Methyl t-butyl ether over an Extended Temperature Range,” Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 101, 2436, 1997.

P. H. Taylor, M. Sm. Rahman, M. Arif, B. Dellinger, and P. Marshall, “Kinetic and Mechanistic Studies of the Reaction of Hydroxyl Radicals with Acetaldehyde over an Extended Temperature Range,” Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, Vol. 26, p. 497, The Combustion Institute, 1996.

T. D. Fang, P. H. Taylor, and B. Dellinger, “Absolute Rate Measurements of the Reaction of OH Radicals with HCFC-21 and HCFC-22 over an Extended Temperature Range,” Journal of Physical Chemistry, 100, 4048, 1996.

Z. Jiang, P. H. Taylor, and B. Dellinger, "LP/LIF Studies of the Reaction of OH with 1,1,1,2- and 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane Over an Extended Temperature Range," Journal of Physical Chemistry, 97, 5050, 1993.

P. H. Taylor, Z. Jiang, and B. Dellinger, "Determination of the Gas-Phase Reactivity of Hydroxyl with Chlorinated Methanes at High Temperature-Effects of Laser/Thermal Photochemistry," International Journal of Chemical Kinetics, 25, 9, 1993.

Z. Jiang, P. H. Taylor, and B. Dellinger, "LP-LIF Studies of the Reaction of OH with 1,1,1-Trichloroethane Over an Extended Temperature Range," Journal of Physical Chemistry, 96, 8961, 1992.

Z. Jiang, P. H. Taylor, and B. Dellinger, "LP-LIF Studies of the Reaction of OH with 1,1-Dichloroethane Over an Extended Temperature Range," Journal of Physical Chemistry, 96, 8964, 1992.

P. H. Taylor, Z. Jiang, and B. Dellinger, "Laser Photolysis/Laser Induced Fluorescence Studies of the Reaction of Hydroxyl with 1,1,2-Trichloroethane Over an Extended Temperature Range," Journal of Physical Chemistry, 96, 1293, 1992.

P. H. Taylor, S. McCarron, and B. Dellinger, "Investigation of 1,2-Dichloroethane-Hydroxyl Kinetics over an Extended Temperature Range: Effect of Chlorine Substitution," Chemical Physics Letters, 177, 27, 1991.

J. H. Kasner, P. H. Taylor, and B. Dellinger, "Laser Photolysis/Laser-Induced Fluorescence Study of OH-C2H5Cl Rate Constants from 294-789 K," Journal of Physical Chemistry, 94, 3250, 1990.

P. H. Taylor, J. A. D'Angelo, M. C. Martin, J. H. Kasner, and B. Dellinger, "Laser Photolysis/Laser Induced Fluorescence Studies of Reaction Rates of OH with CH3Cl, CH2Cl2, and CHCl3 Over an Extended Temperature Range," International Journal of Chemical Kinetics, 21, 829, 1989.