Objective
Problems to be solved
Partially fluorinated alcohols, FAs, and hydrofluoroethers, HFEs, have been suggested as alter-natives for CFCs and HCFCs. To determine the environmental impact of FAs and HFEs released into the troposphere, the atmospheric lifetimes and the nature and fate of their resulting oxidation products are needed. This, in turn, requires kinetic data for their atmospheric oxidation processes, information on their degradation mechanisms, information on their infrared, ultraviolet and visible absorption cross-sections, and information on their partitioning between the vapour and the aqueous phases. The existing data for these quantities are inade-quate.
Scientific objectives and approach
The main objective of the project is to provide quality controlled laboratory data and modelling results of global warming potentials for an integrated analysis of new CFC and HCFC alternatives. To achieve the scientific objectives, the laboratory work includes measurements of OH and Cl reaction rate constants with a series of FAs and HFEs, and of selected primary oxidation products from these. The product distribution is investigated and several reaction chambers are employed in order to eliminate artefacts. The kinetics of the subsequent formation of peroxy radicals and their reactions with other peroxy radicals and NOx are also studied. An experimental set-up for measuring Henry Law constants and uptake coefficients is constructed and selected FAs, HFEs, and FA and HFE oxidation products are investigated. This provides information of their interaction with aerosols and clouds. Spectroscopic measurements in the infrared, ultraviolet and visible spectral regions provide absorption cross-sections from which estimates of the direct photo degradation process under sunlight irradiation is made. The spectroscopic data are also used for calculating radiative forcing and global warming potentials employing 2-D and 3-D chemical transport models for evaluating the atmospheric residence time of the compounds. Additional experiments using the EUPHORE reactor give "pseudo" realistic information on the tropospheric degradation mechanisms. Theoretical calculations of bond energies combined with the experimental reaction rate constants provide a structure-reactivity relationship for the FA and HFE classes of compounds. On the basis of the laboratory data and the EUPHORE experiments a general degradation scheme is developed.
Expected impacts
The project provides essential kinetic, mechanistic, physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data for a complete analysis of the environmental fate of possible replacement compounds and thereby makes an important contribution to the integrated analysis for selection of new alternatives to CFCs and HCFCs.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry alcohols
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences meteorology troposphere
- social sciences law
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics mathematical model
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
0315 OSLO
Norway
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.