The UV-visible absorption spectrum and photolysis quantum yields of methlyglyoxal

Laboratory studies have been conducted to determine the rate and mechanism of methylglyoxal (MGLY, CH₃COCHO) photolysis under tropospheric conditions. The UV/visible absorption cross sections of MGLY as a function of wavelength have been measured at three different temperatures. The results at 298 K are in agreement with the values published by Meller et al. (1991) and differ by almost a factor of 2 from earlier work published by Plum et al. (1983). The quantum yields and products of the photolysis are reported for various wavelength bands between 240 and 480 nm. The kinetics and mechanism for reaction of HO₂ with methylglyoxal were also determined. -from Authors