PHOTOOXIDATION OF CS2 IN THE NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET AND ITS ATMOSPHERIC IMPLICATIONS

Sequential two photon photolysis of CS2 is discussed. Experiments in o ur lab and others have shown that photolysis of CS2 and O-2 mixtures w ith light of energies below the SC-S bond dissociation energy produces OCS and SO2. We explain these results by the two photon sequential ab sorption and subsequent dissociation of CS2 to CS+S. The implications of this mechanism for the oxidation of CS2 in the atmosphere are discu ssed. Comparison to the currently accepted OH-initiated oxidation mech anism suggests that the sequential two-photon mechanism is too slow to be important in the atmosphere.