The lignin pyrolysis products generated by biomass combustion make an essential contribution to the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). The ozone-initiated oxidation of guaiacol, syringol and creosol, major constituents of biomass burning, were investigated theoretically by using the density functional theory (DFT) method at the MPWB1K/6-311+G(3df,2p)//MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level. Six primary addition reaction pathways and further decomposition routes with corresponding thermodynamic values were proposed. The Criegee intermediates can be excited by small molecules, such as NOx, H2O in the atmosphere, and would further proceed via self-decomposition or isomerization. The most predominant product for ozonation of guaiacol is the monomethyl muconate (P1). At 295 K and atmospheric pressure, the rate constant is 1.10 × 10-19 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, which is lies a factor of 4 smaller than the previous experimental study. The branching ratios of the six channels are calculated based on corresponding rate coefficient. The present work mainly provides a more comprehensive and detailed theoretical research on the ozonation of methoxyphenol, which aspires to offer novel insights and reference for future experimental and theoretical work and control techniques of SOAs caused by lignin pyrolysis products.
Keywords: biomass burning; creosol; guaiacol; rate constant; reaction pathways; syringol.