In recent years, biofuels have been receiving significant attention because of their potential for decreasing carbon emissions and providing a long-term renewable solution to unsustainable fossil fuels. Currently, lactones are some of the alternatives being produced. Many lactones occur in a range of natural substances and have many advantages over bioethanol. In this study, the oxidation of alpha-angelica lactone initiated by ground-state atomic oxygen, O(3P), was studied at 298, 550, and 700 K using synchrotron radiation coupled with multiplexed photoionization mass spectrometry at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL). Photoionization spectra and kinetic time traces were measured to identify the primary products. Ketene, acetaldehyde, methyl vinyl ketone, methylglyoxal, dimethyl glyoxal, and 5-methyl-2,4-furandione were characterized as major reaction products, with ketene being the most abundant at all three temperatures. Possible reaction pathways for the formation of the observed primary products were computed using the CBS-QB3 composite method.
Keywords: biofuel; multiplexed mass spectrometry; oxidation; reaction pathways; synchrotron photoionization.