ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY OF CF3COOH - KINETICS OF THE REACTION WITH OH RADICALS

Two different experimental techniques were used to study the kinetics of the reaction of OH radicals with trifluoroacetic acid, CF3COOH. Usi ng a pulse radiolysis absolute rate technique, rate constants at 315 a nd 348 K were determined to be (1.6 +/- 0.4) x 10(-13) and (1.5 +/- 0. 2) x 10(-13) cm3 molecule-1 s-1, respectively. Using a long path-lengt h FTIR relative rate technique a rate constant of (1.7 +/- 0.5) x 10(- 13) cm3 molecule-1 s-1 was obtained at 296 K. In the atmosphere, react ion with OH radicals in the gas phase is estimated to account for 10%- 20% of the loss of CF3COOH. The major fate of CF3COOH is rainout.