Kinetics of Gas Phase Reactions of Atoms and Radicals

大气化学：原子溴和原子氯与大气中发生的一系列化学过程有关，其中最广为人知的是臭氧消耗。为了帮助定量了解这些过程，我们正在进行一项研究计划，旨在测量参数，这些参数可以帮助确定有机化合物与溴原子和氯原子的反应在控制这些原子物种在大气中的浓度方面的相对重要性。这对预测有关的大气现象，如臭氧消耗事件具有影响。我们的实验允许我们在一个70升的反应容器中，在模拟大气条件下选择性地产生感兴趣的反应。溴原子和氯原子是利用与太阳光谱相似的光来分解溴分子和氯分子而产生的。与有机化合物的反应程度是通过对反应容器中混合物的化学分析来确定的，这些信息使我们能够描述各种物质的反应。所得结果允许根据分子结构预测反应性。烟尘的产生和反应性：我们在这一领域的研究主要集中在石油炼制和化石燃料燃烧过程中碳氢化合物的高温反应。这项工作需要对高温反应条件下的产物产率进行化学分析，并结合计算机模拟大量化学反应，以描述所研究的整个化学过程。这项工作预计将有助于确定使用化石燃料的新技术。这样，这项研究将有助于开发以更环保的方式使用天然气和石油的工艺。研究结果还将提供有关烟尘颗粒在大气化学中的作用的信息。

Atmospheric Chemistry:    Atomic bromine and atomic chlorine are implicated in a range of chemical processes that take place in the atmosphere, one of the most publicized ones being ozone depletion.  In order to assist in the quantitative understanding of such processes, we are engaged in a research program that seeks to measure parameters that could help in determining the relative importance of reactions of organic compounds with atomic bromine and chlorine in controlling the concentrations of these atomic species in the atmosphere.  This has implications for predicting related atmospheric phenomena such as ozone depletion events.    Our experiments allow us to selectively produce the reactions of interest under simulated atmospheric conditions in a 70 Litre reaction vessel.  The atomic bromine and chlorine are produced by using light with a spectrum similar to that of the sun to break apart molecular bromine and molecular chlorine.  The extent of reaction with the organic compounds is determined by chemical analysis of the mixture in the reaction vessel and this information allows us to characterize the reactions of a wide range of substances.  The results obtained permit predictions of reactivity based on molecular structure.Generation and Reactivity of Soot:    Our research in this area is focused on the high temperature reactions of hydrocarbons that take place during petroleum refining and during combustion of fossil fuels.  The work requires chemical analysis of the product yields under high temperature reaction conditions combined with computer modeling of the very large set of chemical reactions required to describe the overall chemical process being studied.  This work is expected to aid in identifying new technologies for using fossil fuels.  In this way, the research will contribute to the development of processes for using natural gas and petroleum in more environmentally friendly ways.  The results will also provide information on the role of soot particles in atmospheric chemistry.