Articles | Volume 25, issue 16
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9169-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-9169-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
22 Aug 2025
Research article |
| 22 Aug 2025
| 22 Aug 2025
Atmospheric breakdown kinetics and air quality impact of potential “green” solvents, the oxymethylene ethers OME3 and OME4
James D'Souza Metcalf
Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
Ruth K. Winkless
Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
Caterina Mapelli
Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
now at: National Reasearch Council – Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (IMAA), Tito Scalo, Potenza, 85050, Italy
C. Rob McElroy
Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
now at: Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK
Claudiu Roman
Faculty of Chemistry, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, Romania
Research Center with Integrated Techniques for Atmospheric Aerosol Investigation in Romania (RECENT-AIR), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 11th Carol I, 700506, Iași, Romania
Cecilia Arsene
Faculty of Chemistry, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, Romania
Research Center with Integrated Techniques for Atmospheric Aerosol Investigation in Romania (RECENT-AIR), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 11th Carol I, 700506, Iași, Romania
Integrated Center of Environmental Science Studies in the North Eastern Region (CERNESIM), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, Romania
Romeo I. Olariu
Faculty of Chemistry, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, Romania
Research Center with Integrated Techniques for Atmospheric Aerosol Investigation in Romania (RECENT-AIR), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 11th Carol I, 700506, Iași, Romania
Integrated Center of Environmental Science Studies in the North Eastern Region (CERNESIM), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, Romania
Iustinian G. Bejan
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Faculty of Chemistry, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, Romania
Integrated Center of Environmental Science Studies in the North Eastern Region (CERNESIM), “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, 700506, Iași, Romania
Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
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Finja Löher, Mark A. Blitz, Paul W. Seakins, Nicola Carslaw, and Terry J. Dillon
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1660, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1660, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
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Ethyl butyrate and its methylated derivatives are volatile and commonly used aroma compounds, yet their gas-phase chemistry and air quality impact remain poorly characterised. In this work, we investigated the reactivity of these compounds experimentally. We determined temperature-dependent rate coefficients for their reaction with the main atmospheric oxidant, OH, and found that this was the dominant tropospheric loss process. In contrast, direct photolysis is negligible under most conditions.
Hendrik Fuchs, Niklas Illmann, Amalia Muñoz, Mila Ródenas, Bénédicte Picquet-Varrault, M. Rami Alfarra, Cecilia Arsene, Iustinian G. Bejan, David M. Bell, Merete Bilde, Alexander Böhmländer, Mixtli Campos-Pineda, Mathieu Cazaunau, Patrice Coll, Véronique Daële, Claudia Di Biagio, Michael Flynn, Paola Formenti, Hartmut Herrmann, Kristina Höhler, Thorsten Hohaus, Matthew S. Johnson, Eija Juurola, Niku Kivekäs, Jan Kaiser, Christos Kaltsonoudis, Paolo Laj, Dario Massabò, Federico Mazzei, Gordon McFiggans, Max R. McGillen, Abdelwahid Mellouki, Peter Mettke, Ottmar Möhler, Falk Mothes, Dennis Niedermeier, Anna Novelli, Romeo I. Olariu, Spyros N. Pandis, Iulia Patroescu-Klotz, Rosa Maria Petracca Altieri, Paolo Prati, Claudiu Roman, Albert A. Ruth, Harald Saathoff, Silvio Schmalfuß, Frank Stratmann, Virginia Vernocchi, Aristeidis Voliotis, Jens Voigtländer, Annele Virtanen, Andreas Wahner, Robert Wagner, John Wenger, Sören Zorn, Peter Wiesen, and Jean-Francois Doussin
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1612, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1612, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AMT).
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Atmospheric simulation chambers enable experiments to be conducted under controlled conditions, improving our understanding of, and ability to predict, changes in the composition of the atmosphere. This is important for assessing air quality and its effects on human health, climate, the environment, and the economy. This paper describes the chambers of the European ACTRIS research infrastructure and discusses topics and directions that can be addressed in future chamber experiments.
Henri Diémoz, Francesca Barnaba, Luca Ferrero, Ivan K. F. Tombolato, Caterina Mapelli, Annachiara Bellini, Claudia Desandré, Tiziana Magri, and Manuela Zublena
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5044, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5044, 2025
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RASPBERRY is a new method to identify aerosol emission sources using physical properties (particle size and light absorption) measured at high time resolution by cost-effective optical instruments, instead of labour-intensive chemical analyses. Applied over five years in Aosta, Italy, it identified six main sources – traffic, biomass burning, two types of secondary particles, desert dust, and local resuspension. Validation against chemical apportionment and real-time applications are presented.
Frank A. F. Winiberg, William J. Warman, Charlotte A. Brumby, Graham Boustead, Iustinian G. Bejan, Thomas H. Speak, Dwayne E. Heard, Daniel Stone, and Paul W. Seakins
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 4375–4390, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4375-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4375-2023, 2023
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OH and HO2 are key reactive intermediates in the Earth's atmosphere. Accurate measurements in either the field or simulation chambers provide a good test for chemical mechanisms. Fluorescence techniques have the appropriate sensitivity for detection but require calibration. This paper compares different methods of calibration and specifically how calibration factors vary across a temperature range relevant to atmospheric and chamber determinations.
Caterina Mapelli, James K. Donnelly, Úna E. Hogan, Andrew R. Rickard, Abbie T. Robinson, Fergal Byrne, Con Rob McElroy, Basile F. E. Curchod, Daniel Hollas, and Terry J. Dillon
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 7767–7779, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7767-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-7767-2023, 2023
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Solvents are chemical compounds with countless uses in the chemical industry, and they also represent one of the main sources of pollution in the chemical sector. Scientists are trying to develop new
greensafer solvents which present favourable advantages when compared to traditional solvents. Since the assessment of these green solvents often lacks air quality considerations, this study aims to understand the behaviour of these compounds, investigating their reactivity in the troposphere.
Caterina Mapelli, Juliette V. Schleicher, Alex Hawtin, Conor D. Rankine, Fiona C. Whiting, Fergal Byrne, C. Rob McElroy, Claudiu Roman, Cecilia Arsene, Romeo I. Olariu, Iustinian G. Bejan, and Terry J. Dillon
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 14589–14602, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-14589-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-14589-2022, 2022
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Solvents represent an important source of pollution from the chemical industry. New "green" solvents aim to replace toxic solvents with new molecules made from renewable sources and designed to be less harmful. Whilst these new molecules are selected according to toxicity and other characteristics, no consideration has yet been included on air quality. Studying the solvent breakdown in air, we found that TMO has a lower impact on air quality than traditional solvents with similar properties.
Carmen Maria Tovar, Ian Barnes, Iustinian Gabriel Bejan, and Peter Wiesen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 6989–7004, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6989-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6989-2022, 2022
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This work explores the kinetics and reactivity of epoxides towards the OH radical using two different simulation chambers. Estimation of the rate coefficients has also been made using different structure–activity relationship (SAR) approaches. The results indicate a direct influence of the structural and geometric properties of the epoxides not considered in SAR estimations, influencing the reactivity of these compounds. The outcomes of this work are in very good agreement with previous studies.
Claudiu Roman, Cecilia Arsene, Iustinian Gabriel Bejan, and Romeo Iulian Olariu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 2203–2219, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2203-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-2203-2022, 2022
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Gas-phase reaction rate coefficients of OH radicals with four nitrocatechols have been investigated for the first time by using ESC-Q-UAIC chamber facilities. The reactivity of all investigated nitrocatechols is influenced by the formation of the intramolecular H-bonds that are connected to the deactivating electromeric effect of the NO2 group. For the 3-nitrocatechol compounds, the electromeric effect of the
freeOH group is diminished by the deactivating E-effect of the NO2 group.
Niklas Illmann, Rodrigo Gastón Gibilisco, Iustinian Gabriel Bejan, Iulia Patroescu-Klotz, and Peter Wiesen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 13667–13686, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-13667-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-13667-2021, 2021
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Within this work we determined the rate coefficients and products of the reaction of unsaturated ketones with OH radicals in an effort to complete the gaps in the knowledge needed for modelling chemistry in the atmosphere. Both substances are potentially emitted by biomass burning, industrial activities or formed in the troposphere by oxidation of terpenes. As products we identified aldehydes and ketones which in turn are known to be responsible for the transportation of NOx species.
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Short summary
Oxymethylene ethers are a class of sustainable compounds that could be used to replace harmful organic solvents in a range of applications. In this work, we use lab-based experiments to identify the main breakdown routes of these compounds in the atmosphere. We have determined that they likely contribute less to air pollution than the compounds that they replace.
Oxymethylene ethers are a class of sustainable compounds that could be used to replace harmful...
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