TROPOSPHERIC LIFETIMES OF POTENTIAL CFC REPLACEMENTS - RATE COEFFICIENTS FOR REACTION WITH THE HYDROXYL RADICAL

An important consideration in the selection of potential replacements for CFCs is the rate of hydrogen-atom abstraction by the hydroxyl radical. Approximate linear correlations are investigated that allow the prediction of the relevant rate constants for partially fluorinated hydrocarbons. These rate constants may be used to infer tropospheric lifetimes. For fluorinated ethers, estimates are presented for important rate constants which have not yet been determined experimentally, and lifetimes are predicted. Differences between ethers and alkanes are discussed, and trends in the variation of lifetimes with the degree of fluorination are noted.