Product Formation from the Chlorine-Initiated Oxidation of Amyl Acetate Under Atmospheric Conditions

The degradation formed during the gas-phase reaction of amyl acetate, CH3COO(CH2)4CH3, initiated by chlorine atoms (●Cl), was investigated under atmospheric conditions using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The main products identified were acetic acid, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, butyraldehyde, and propionaldehyde. Calibration curves were established for each identified product at different concentrations to enable their quantification by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection. Product yields were subsequently determined from the calibration data, allowing a quantitative evaluation of the formation of the major oxidation products. The results obtained contribute to a better understanding of the atmospheric degradation pathways of amyl acetate and related ester compounds, providing useful information for assessing the atmospheric processing of ester-containing emissions, including those associated with biofuel applications.