Photolysis study of fluorinated ketones under natural sunlight conditions

UV-visible absorption cross-sections are reported for CF3C(O)CH3, CF3C(O)CH2CH3, and CH3CH2C(O)CH(CH3)2. The photolysis rate constants of CF3C(O)CH3, CF3C(O)CH2CH3, and CF3CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2 were measured from smog-chamber experiments carried out in a 400 L Teflon-bag reactor under sunlight irradiation. Actinic radiation profiles from the “Tropospheric Ultraviolet and Visible Radiation Model” were used to obtain quantum efficiencies of photolysis: 0.34 ± 0.08, 0.24 ± 0.06, and (4.4 ± 0.6) × 10−2 for CF3C(O)CH3, CF3C(O)CH2CH3, and CF3CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2, respectively. These values correspond to wavelength ranges of 295–345 nm (for CF3C(O)CH3 and CF3C(O)CH2CH3) and 295–360 nm (for CF3CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2). The photolysis rate constants change significantly with the seasons, with the yearly averages being (2.3 ± 0.7) × 10−6, (1.8 ± 0.6) × 10−6, and (2.1 ± 0.8) × 10−6 s−1 for CF3C(O)CH3, CF3C(O)CH2CH3, and CF3CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2, respectively. Photolysis processes are fast and responsible for the short gas-phase lifetimes of the studied ketones, which are 5.1 ± 2.2, 6.5 ± 2.5 and 5.5 ± 1.5 days. The radiative forcing efficiencies are provided to assess the contribution of emissions of these gases to climate change. As a result of the short atmospheric lifetimes, their global warming potentials are negligible. Theoretical calculations involving ground and excited states justify the higher photolysis quantum efficiencies of CF3C(O)CH3 and CF3C(O)CH2CH3 compared to CF3CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2, which shows increased photolysis rate constants in the absence of O2.