Experimental studies have been performed using three different smog chamber setups to investigate the atmospheric chemistry of fluorinated compounds as well as alkenes. The three instruments were at Ford Motor Company, USA, National Center for Atmospheric Research, USA, and Copenhagen Center for Atmospheric Research, Denmark. All setups consist of a chamber and uses UV light to initiate the experiments and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for the analysis of the data.
The atmospheric chemistry of new chlorofluorocarbon replacements is discussed. Experimental studies have been performed on: (CF₃)₂CHOCH₃, (CF₃)₂CHOCHO, CF₃C(0)OCH₃, Z- and E-CF ₃CH=CHCF₃. These studies include determining the kinetics of the reactions of the compounds with atmospheric oxidants, the products of the reactions, and assessing the atmospheric impact of the compounds by estimating their atmospheric lifetime and global warming potential.
A mechanistic study of the hydrofluorocarbon CH₂F₂ has been performed in the absence and presence of hydrocarbons, investigating the possibility of formation of fluorinated alcohols. The reaction mechanism was studied in detail, examining competition between peroxy and alkoxy radical reactions. As part of this, the atmospheric fates of the alkoxy radical CHF₂O and the alcohol CHF₂OH were determined.
The reactions of several C₃-C₆ alkenes and one unsaturated C5 alcohol with NO₃ radicals were studied, determining general reaction trends and the products formed in the reactions. The products formed in the reaction of NO₃ radicals with trans-2-butene were quantified, and the fate of the nitrooxy alkoxy radical CH₃CH(0•)CH(ONO₂)CH₃ was determined. The observed products were compared to the predictions used in global atmospheric chemistry models.