Rate coefficients for the OH + acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) reaction between 204 and 373 K

The rate coefficient, k₁, for the gas‐phase reaction OH + CH₃CHO (acetaldehyde) → products, was measured over the temperature range 204–373 K using pulsed laser photolytic production of OH coupled with its detection via laser‐induced fluorescence. The CH₃CHO concentration was measured using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV absorption at 184.9 nm and gas flow rates. The room temperature rate coefficient and Arrhenius expression obtained are k₁(296 K) = (1.52 ± 0.15) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and k₁(T) = (5.32 ± 0.55) × 10^?12 exp(315 ± 40)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The rate coefficient for the reaction OH (ν = 1) + CH₃CHO, k₇(T) (where k₇ is the rate coefficient for the overall removal of OH (ν = 1)), was determined over the temperature range 204–296 K and is given by k₇(T) = (3.5 ± 1.4) × 10^?12 exp(500 ± 90)/T], where k₇(296 K) = (1.9 ± 0.6) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The quoted uncertainties are 2σ (95% confidence level). The preexponential term and the room temperature rate coefficient include estimated systematic errors. k₇ is slightly larger than k₁ over the range of temperatures included in this study. The results from this study were found to be in good agreement with previously reported values of k₁(T) for temperatures <298 K. An expression for k₁(T), suitable for use in atmospheric models, in the NASA/JPL and IUPAC format, was determined by combining the present results with previously reported values and was found to be k₁(298 K) = 1.5 × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, f(298 K) = 1.1, E/R = 340 K, and Δ E/R (or g) = 20 K over the temperature range relevant to the atmosphere. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 635–646, 2008