Theoretical estimation of the apparent rate constants for ozone decomposition in gas and aqueous phases using ab initio calculations

An ab initio study, using the coupled cluster calculations (CCSD) method was conducted to investigate the kinetics of the ozone degradation in gas and aqueous phases considering the reaction of ozone with the hydroperoxyl radical. Two potential transition state paths, oxygen and hydrogen transfer, are studied and compared. It was revealed by the ab initio quantum chemical calculations that the calculated overall rate constant in the gas phase differs by approximately an order of magnitude from measured values. However, the calculated selectivity (branching fraction), which was measured directly with isotope studies of hydrogen atom transfer, is almost exactly equal to the experimental value at 298.15 K. The sensitivity analysis showed that adding the reaction between ozone and hydroperoxyl radical to the kinetic model accelerates the decomposition process by more than four times in the aqueous phase (pH = 7–8.5), and for an order of magnitude change in the rate constant of this reaction, the decomposition half-life changes by 20–45 %. This result might affect our understanding of atmospheric ozone chemistry.