Uptake kinetics of 3-buten-1-ol, 4-penten-1-ol and 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol into sulfuric acid solutions

Unsaturated alcohols are important components in complex mixtures of oxygenated volatile organic compounds, and play a significant role in atmospheric chemistry. The uptake kinetics of 3-buten-1-ol (BO31), 4-penten-1-ol (PO41) and 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol (MBO331) into 20 wt%-80 wt% H₂SO₄ solutions were studied, using a rotated wetted-wall reactor coupled to a differentially pumped single-photon ionization time of flight mass spectrometer (SPI-TOFMS). With increasing acidity, the uptake processes changed from reversible to irreversible (reactive). Reactive uptake was observed in 60 wt%-80 wt%, 50 wt%-80 wt% and 30 wt%-80 wt% H₂SO₄ solutions for BO31, PO41 and MBO331, respectively. Reactive uptake coefficients were acquired and are reported here for the first time. Reactivity order followed the trend: BO312SO₄ to the C=C double bond was used to explain this trend. Atmospheric implications were discussed, based on the reactive uptake coefficients. This heterogeneous reaction with sulfuric acid aerosols may be a potential degradation pathway of unsaturated alcohols, and should not be neglected.