Experimental studies of the kinetics of the reaction of hydroxyl (OH) radicals with 3-methylfuran at low pressure

In addition to anthropogenic origins from fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning, 3-methylfuran is an atmospheric constituent of interest due to biogenic origins from the OH-initiated oxidation of isoprene. Although the yield of 3-methylfuran produced from the OH-initiated oxidation of isoprene is relatively small (approximately 5%), 3-methylfuran could contribute significantly to atmospheric chemistry due to the high emission rate of isoprene to the atmosphere. A knowledge of the rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with 3-methylfuran under a variety of conditions is important for determining the overall impact of isoprene emissions on atmospheric chemistry. The rate constant for the reaction of OH with 3-methylfuran has been measured as a function of temperature at low pressure using discharge-flow techniques coupled with laser induced fluorescence detection of OH. These absolute measurements at room temperature will be compared to previous measurements using relative rate techniques. The measurements of the temperature dependence for this reaction are the first to be reported.