Atmospheric chemistry of 2-aminoethanol (MEA): Reaction of the NH 2•CHCH2OH radical with O2

Abstract

The alkanolamine 2-aminoethanol (NH2CH2CH 2OH), otherwise known as monoethanolamine (MEA), is a widely used solvent for carbon capture, yet relatively little is known about its atmospheric chemistry. The hydroxyl radical initiated oxidation of MEA is thought to predominantly form the α-aminoalkyl radical NH2 •CHCH2OH, which will subsequently react with O 2 in the atmosphere to produce a peroxyl radical. We have investigated the reaction of O2 with the NH2 •CHCH2OH radical using quantum chemical calculations and master equation kinetic modeling. This reaction is found to proceed predominantly via a chemically activated mechanism under tropospheric conditions to directly produce the imine 2-im..