The Fate of Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Photochemical Smog Systems: Toluene

Abstract

For the first time a satisfactory carbon mass balance is reported for the reaction of an aromatic hydrocarbon in a photochemical smog system. Approximately 96% of the reacted aromatic hydrocarbon (toluene) is accounted for as reaction products. The products of the reaction indicate three different mechanisms of formation of primary products including (1) side chain attack, (2) ring cleavage, and (3) addition to the ring. A fourth mechanism involves secondary reaction of the primary products. In terms of mathematical modeling of photochemical smog, it is imperative that the primary products of the aromatic hydrocarbons be incorporated in kinetic models and the secondary reactions of these products taken into account, since reaction products such as the aldehydes are probably more reactive in photochemical smog systems than the aromatic hydrocarbon starting material.