Photooxidation Of Aromatic Hydrocarbons Research Articles

Combined Smog Chamber/Oxidation Flow Reactor Study on Aging of Secondary Organic Aerosol from Photooxidation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is a significant component of atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and their physicochemical properties can be significantly changed in the aging process. In this study, we used a combination consisting of a smog chamber (SC) and oxidation flow reactor (OFR) to investigate the continuous aging process of gas-phase organic intermediates and SOA formed from the photooxidation of toluene, a typical aromatic hydrocarbon. Our results showed that as the OH exposure increased from 2.6 × 1011 to 6.3 × 1011 molecules cm-3 s (equivalent aging time of 2.01-4.85 days), the SOA mass concentration (2.9 ± 0.05-28.7 ± 0.6 μg cm-3) and corrected SOA yield (0.073-0.26) were significantly enhanced. As the aging process proceeds, organic acids and multiple oxygen-containing oxidation products are continuously produced from the photochemical aging process of gas-phase organic intermediates (mainly semi-volatile and intermediate volatility species, S/IVOCs). The multigeneration oxidation products then partition to the aerosol phase, while functionalization of SOA rather than fragmentation dominated in the photochemical aging process, resulting in much higher SOA yield after aging compared to that in the SC. Our study indicates that SOA yields as a function of OH exposure should be considered in air quality models to improve SOA simulation, and thus accurately assess the impact on SOA properties and regional air quality.

Photo-oxidation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons Produces Low-Volatility Organic Compounds.

To better understand the role of aromatic hydrocarbons in new-particle formation, we measured the particle-phase abundance and volatility of oxidation products following the reaction of aromatic hydrocarbons with OH radicals. For this we used thermal desorption in an iodide-adduct Time-of-Flight Chemical-Ionization Mass Spectrometer equipped with a Filter Inlet for Gases and AEROsols (FIGAERO-ToF-CIMS). The particle-phase volatility measurements confirm that oxidation products of toluene and naphthalene can contribute to the initial growth of newly formed particles. Toluene-derived (C7) oxidation products have a similar volatility distribution to that of α-pinene-derived (C10) oxidation products, while naphthalene-derived (C10) oxidation products are much less volatile than those from toluene or α-pinene; they are thus stronger contributors to growth. Rapid progression through multiple generations of oxidation is more pronounced in toluene and naphthalene than in α-pinene, resulting in more oxidation but also favoring functional groups with much lower volatility per added oxygen atom, such as hydroxyl and carboxylic groups instead of hydroperoxide groups. Under conditions typical of polluted urban settings, naphthalene may well contribute to nucleation and the growth of the smallest particles, whereas the more abundant alkyl benzenes may overtake naphthalene once the particles have grown beyond the point where the Kelvin effect strongly influences the condensation driving force.

Carbenium ion-mediated oligomerization of methylglyoxal for secondary organic aerosol formation

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) represents a major constituent of tropospheric fine particulate matter, with profound implications for human health and climate. However, the chemical mechanisms leading to SOA formation remain uncertain, and atmospheric models consistently underpredict the global SOA budget. Small α-dicarbonyls, such as methylglyoxal, are ubiquitous in the atmosphere because of their significant production from photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons from traffic and industrial sources as well as from biogenic isoprene. Current experimental and theoretical results on the roles of methylglyoxal in SOA formation are conflicting. Using quantum chemical calculations, we show cationic oligomerization of methylglyoxal in aqueous media. Initial protonation and hydration of methylglyoxal lead to formation of diols/tetrol, and subsequent protonation and dehydration of diols/tetrol yield carbenium ions, which represent the key intermediates for formation and propagation of oligomerization. On the other hand, our results reveal that the previously proposed oligomerization via hydration for methylglyoxal is kinetically and thermodynamically implausible. The carbenium ion-mediated mechanism occurs barrierlessly on weakly acidic aerosols and cloud/fog droplets and likely provides a key pathway for SOA formation from biogenic and anthropogenic emissions.

Evolution of physical and photocatalytic properties of new Zn(II) and Ru(II) complexes

Synthesis of Zn(II) and Ru(II) complexes were reported by using N4-macrocyclic Schiff base ligands under solvothermal conditions. The newly synthesized Zn(II) and Ru(II) complexes have been characterized by various physico-chemical techniques such as elemental analysis, molar conductance, HRMS, TGA, FESEM, UV–Vis, FT-IR, 1H NMR, and cyclic voltammetry. By using molar conductance studies, the complexes are formulated as [Zn(TPTTP)]Cl2 and [Ru(TPTTP)Cl2]. CH bond activation of an sp3 group of methylstyrenes (converted into cinnamaldehydes) and CH bond activation of the sp2 bond of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons through photooxidation was examined in the presence of Zn(II) and Ru(II) complexes. Reusable activity studies and photostability of catalyst are investigated by using UV–Vis spectra. Based on the results, higher catalytic activity of [Ru(TPTTP)Cl2] complex than [Zn(TPTTP)]Cl2 complex in both CH bond activation and photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons has been reported.

Smog chamber study of the role of NH3 in new particle formation from photo-oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons

Ammonia (NH3) is a major contributor to secondary aerosol in the atmosphere and can alter the kinetics of their formation. However, systematic studies related to the role of NH3 in aerosol nucleation processes and further particle size growth under complex scenarios are lacking. In this study, we conducted 16 experiments in the CSIRO smog chamber under dry conditions using aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, o-/m-/p-xylene) and different concentrations of NH3. The presence of NH3 did not change the gas-phase chemistry or nucleation onset time, but slowed the nucleation rate (5%–94%) once it began. From the response of nitrogen oxides (NOx) measurement and mechanism modeling results, we hypothesised that the surface reaction between NH3 and nitric acid played a central role in aerosol nucleation and further growth. After nucleation, the subsequently formed ammonium nitrate and organic condensation vapours may partition together into the initial growth process of new particles, thus increasing the aerosol initial growth rate (8%–90%) and size growth potentials (7%–108%), and leading to high aerosol mass formation. Further investigation implied that the initial growth and further growth rate determine the aerosol mass concentration, rather than the nucleation rate. We conclude that both the initial NOx concentration and volatile organic compound (VOC)/NOx ratio are crucial for the initial and further growth, and aerosol mass of new particles, when NH3 levels are high. Our results provide crucial insights into the complex chemistry of VOC/NOx/NH3 in the atmosphere, and highlight the importance of NH3 reduction for particulate matter control.

Visible-Light Selective Photooxidation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons via Ligand-to-Metal Charge Transfer Transition on Nb2O5

This study shows that a vacuum heat treatment of Nb2O5 permits the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) transition between its surface and adsorbed aromatic hydrocarbons, which corresponds to visible light (>390 nm) absorption. Selective photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons to form the corresponding carbonyl compounds could effectively proceed under visible light irradiation by using this LMCT transition, and the catalytic activity is much superior to that of TiO2. Specifically, the LMCT bands of toluene-adsorbed Nb2O5 correlated well with the action spectrum for toluene photooxidation, suggesting that the reaction proceeded via the LMCT photoexcitation. We successfully detected toluene radical cation and its further oxidation product of benzylperoxy radical as intermediate species on toluene-adsorbed Nb2O5 through the LMCT transition. These findings suggest a novel reaction mechanism for the selective photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons via LMCT transition on Nb2O5.

Evaluation of anthropogenic secondary organic aerosol tracers from aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract. Products of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid, dicarboxylic acids, nitromonoaromatics, and furandiones – were evaluated for their potential to serve as anthropogenic SOA tracers with respect to their (1) ambient concentrations and detectability in PM2.5 in Iowa City, IA, USA; (2) gas–particle partitioning behaviour; and (3) source specificity by way of correlations with primary and secondary source tracers and literature review. A widely used tracer for toluene-derived SOA, 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid was only detected in the particle phase (Fp = 1) at low but consistently measurable ambient concentrations (averaging 0.3 ng m−3). Four aromatic dicarboxylic acids were detected at relatively higher concentrations (9.1–34.5 ng m−3), of which phthalic acid was the most abundant. Phthalic acid had a low particle-phase fraction (Fp = 0.26) likely due to quantitation interferences from phthalic anhydride, while 4-methylphthalic acid was predominantly in the particle phase (Fp = 0.82). Phthalic acid and 4-methylphthalic acid were both highly correlated with 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid (rs = 0.73, p = 0.003; rs = 0.80, p < 0.001, respectively), suggesting that they were derived from aromatic VOCs. Isophthalic and terephthalic acids, however, were detected only in the particle phase (Fp = 1), and correlations suggested association with primary emission sources. Nitromonoaromatics were dominated by particle-phase concentrations of 4-nitrocatechol (1.6 ng m−3) and 4-methyl-5-nitrocatechol (1.6 ng m−3) that were associated with biomass burning. Meanwhile, 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzyl alcohol was detected in a lower concentration (0.06 ng m−3) in the particle phase only (Fp = 1) and is known as a product of toluene photooxidation. Furandiones in the atmosphere have only been attributed to the photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons; however the substantial partitioning toward the gas phase (Fp ≤ 0.16) and their water sensitivity limit their application as tracers. The outcome of this study is the demonstration that 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid, phthalic acid, 4-methylphthalic acid, and 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzyl alcohol are good candidates for tracing SOA from aromatic VOCs.

Contribution of methyl group to secondary organic aerosol formation from aromatic hydrocarbon photooxidation

The complete atmospheric oxidation pathways leading to secondary organic aerosol remain elusive for aromatic compounds including the role of methyl substitutes on oxidation. This study investigates the contribution of methyl group to Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA) formation during the photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons under low NOx condition by applying methyl carbon labeled aromatic hydrocarbons ((13C2) m-xylene and (13C2) p-xylene). Particle and gas phase oxidation products are analyzed by a series of mass spectrometers (HR-TOF-AMS, PTR-MS and SIFT-MS). The methyl group carbon containing oxidation products partition to the particle-phase at a lower rate than the carbons originating from the aromatic ring as a result of ring opening reactions. Further, the methyl carbon in the original aromatic structure is at least 7 times less likely to be oxidized when forming products that partition to SOA than the aromatic ring carbon. Therefore, oxidation of the methyl group in xylenes exerts little impact on SOA formation in current study. This study provides supporting evidence for a recent finding -- a similarity in the SOA formation and composition from aromatic hydrocarbons regardless of the alkyl substitutes.

Impact of molecular structure on secondary organic aerosol formation from aromatic hydrocarbon photooxidation under low-NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> conditions

Abstract. The molecular structure of volatile organic compounds determines their oxidation pathway, directly impacting secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. This study comprehensively investigates the impact of molecular structure on SOA formation from the photooxidation of 12 different eight- to nine-carbon aromatic hydrocarbons under low-NOx conditions. The effects of the alkyl substitute number, location, carbon chain length and branching structure on the photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons are demonstrated by analyzing SOA yield, chemical composition and physical properties. Aromatic hydrocarbons, categorized into five groups, show a yield order of ortho (o-xylene and o-ethyltoluene) > one substitute (ethylbenzene, propylbenzene and isopropylbenzene) > meta (m-xylene and m-ethyltoluene) > three substitute (trimethylbenzenes) > para (p-xylene and p-ethyltoluene). SOA yields of aromatic hydrocarbon photooxidation do not monotonically decrease when increasing alkyl substitute number. The ortho position promotes SOA formation while the para position suppresses aromatic oxidation and SOA formation. Observed SOA chemical composition and volatility confirm that higher yield is associated with further oxidation. SOA chemical composition also suggests that aromatic oxidation increases with increasing alkyl substitute chain length and branching structure. Further, carbon dilution conjecture developed by Li et al. (2016) is extended in this study to serve as a standard method to determine the extent of oxidation of an alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon.

Instantaneous nitric oxide effect on secondary organic aerosol formation from m-xylene photooxidation

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from aromatic hydrocarbon photooxidation is highly sensitive to NO concentration. The instantaneous effect of NO on SOA formation from m-xylene photooxidation is investigated in this work by data mining 10 years of aromatic hydrocarbon chamber experiments conducted in the UC Riverside/CE-CERT chamber. First, the effect of sub-ppb NO concentrations on SOA formation is explored. The relationship of SOA growth rate to 1) NO2/NO ratio; 2) instantaneous HC/NO; 3) absolute NO concentration; 4) peroxy radical reaction branching ratio and 5) hydroxyl radical concentration are illustrated. Second, continuous and stepwise NO, NO2 and HONO injection are applied to m-xylene photooxidation experiments to simulate continuous NO sources in an urban area. The influence of these reaction scenarios on radical concentrations and SOA formation is explored. [HO2]/[RO2] shows a strong correlation with SOA yields in addition to [OH]/[HO2], [OH], [HO2] and [RO2]. Enhanced SOA formation is observed when low NO levels (<1 ppb) are artificially maintained by continuous or step-wise injection; consistent with earlier research, SOA formation is observed to be suppressed by large initial NO injections. It is proposed that NO at sub-ppb level enhances OH formation increasing HO2 and RO2 and therefore promoting SOA formation. Further, two NO pathways (one promoting and one suppressing SOA formation) and one extremely low NO phase (NO “free”) are used to demonstrate the evolution of NO impact on SOA formation during photooxidation. This study implies that SOA yields from aromatic hydrocarbon and low NOx photooxidation is previously underestimated due to differences between traditional environmental chamber experiments and atmospheric reactivity.

Optical properties of secondary organic aerosols generated by photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons.

The refractive index (RI) is the fundamental characteristic that affects the optical properties of aerosols, which could be some of the most important factors influencing direct radiative forcing. The secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) generated by the photooxidation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and m-xylene (BTEX) under low-NOx and high-NOx conditions are explored in this study. The particles generated in our experiments are considered to be spherical, based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) images, and nonabsorbent at a wavelength of 532 nm, as determined by ultraviolet-visible light (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The retrieved RIs at 532 nm for the SOAs range from 1.38–1.59, depending on several factors, such as different precursors and NOx levels. The RIs of the SOAs are altered differently as the NOx concentration increases as follows: the RIs of the SOAs derived from benzene and toluene increase, whereas those of the SOAs derived from ethylbenzene and m-xylene decrease. Finally, by comparing the experimental data with the model values, we demonstrate that the models likely overestimate the RI values of the SOA particles to a certain extent, which in turn overestimates the global direct radiative forcing of the organic particles.

AMS and LC/MS analyses of SOA from the photooxidation of benzene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene in the presence of NO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;x&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;: effects of chemical structure on SOA aging

Abstract. Oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA) observed in remote areas is believed to comprise aged secondary organic aerosol (SOA); however, the reaction processes relevant to SOA chemical aging have hitherto been unclear. We recently measured the mass spectra of SOA formed from the photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons using an Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) and reported that SOA aging is slowed with increasing number of alkyl groups in the precursor molecule. In this study, we selected benzene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (TMB) as precursors to analyze SOA formed from the photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of NOx using high-resolution time-of-flight AMS (H-ToF-AMS) and liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/TOF-MS). A van Krevelen diagram was studied using the O/C and H/C ratios obtained by H-ToF-AMS for organics present in SOA. The results showed these organics to be rich in carboxylic acids or hydroxycarbonyls and the O/C ratio of SOA formed by the reaction of 1,3,5-TMB to be lower than that for benzene. Analytical results from LC/TOF-MS showed the particulate products formed by the reaction of 1,3,5-TMB to be richer in ketocarboxylic acids than for benzene. These results indicate that SOA aging proceeds mainly by formation of carboxylic acids and that the rate of SOA aging in laboratory chambers is limited by the oxidation of ketone groups. SOA formed in laboratory chamber experiments is less oxidized than for ambient OOA, not only because the experimental duration is insufficient or the SOA mass loading in the chamber is higher than that of the atmosphere. The laboratory chamber experiments under dry conditions are not able to simulate ketocarboxylic acid photochemical oxidation in the aqueous phase. The fractions of organic peroxides to the total SOA mass were determined by iodometric spectrophotometry to be 12 ± 8% (1,3,5-TMB) and &lt;39% (benzene). Further, it was newly found that, unlike the reaction of benzene, only very small amounts of nitrophenols are produced by the reaction of 1,3,5-TMB.

Chamber studies of SOA formation from aromatic hydrocarbons: observation of limited glyoxal uptake

Abstract. This study evaluates the significance of glyoxal acting as an intermediate species leading to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from aromatic hydrocarbon photooxidation under humid conditions. Rapid SOA formation from glyoxal uptake onto aqueous (NH4)2SO4 seed particles is observed in agreement with previous studies; however, glyoxal did not partition significantly to SOA (with or without aqueous seed) during aromatic hydrocarbon photooxidation within an environmental chamber (RH less than 80%). Rather, glyoxal influences SOA formation by raising hydroxyl (OH) radical concentrations. Four experimental approaches supporting this conclusion are presented in this paper: (1) increased SOA formation and decreased SOA volatility in the toluene + NOx photooxidation system with additional glyoxal was reproduced by matching OH radical concentrations through H2O2 addition; (2) glyoxal addition to SOA seed formed from toluene + NOx photooxidation did not increase SOA volume under dark; (3) SOA formation from toluene + NOx photooxidation with and without deliquesced (NH4)2SO4 seed resulted in similar SOA growth, consistent with a minor contribution from glyoxal uptake onto deliquesced seed and organic coatings; and (4) the fraction of a C4H9+ fragment (observed by Aerodyne High Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer, HR-ToF-AMS) in SOA from 2-tert-butylphenol (BP) oxidation was unchanged in the presence of additional glyoxal despite enhanced SOA formation. This study suggests that glyoxal uptake onto aerosol during the oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons is more limited than previously thought.

Laboratory studies on optical properties of secondary organic aerosols generated during the photooxidation of toluene and the ozonolysis of α‐pinene

It has recently been suggested that some organic aerosols can absorb solar radiation, especially at the shorter visible and UV wavelengths. Although quantitative characterization of the optical properties of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) is required in order to confirm the effect of SOAs on the atmospheric radiation balance, the light absorption of SOAs has not yet been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we conducted laboratory experiments to measure the optical properties of SOAs generated during the photooxidation of toluene in the presence of NOx and the ozonolysis of α‐pinene. Extinction and scattering coefficients of the SOAs were measured by a cavity ring‐down aerosol extinction spectrometer and an integrating nephelometer, respectively. Refractive indices of the SOAs were determined so that the measured particle size dependence of the extinction and scattering efficiencies could be reproduced by calculations using Mie scattering theory. As a result, significant light absorption was found at 355 nm for the toluene SOAs. In contrast, no significant absorption was found either at 355 or 532 nm for the α‐pinene SOAs. Using the obtained refractive index, mass absorption cross‐section values of the toluene SOAs were calculated to be 0.3–3 m2 g−1 at 355 nm. The results indicate that light absorption by the SOAs formed from the photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons have a potential to influence the total aerosol light absorption, especially at UV wavelengths.

Mass spectrometric study of secondary organic aerosol formed from the photo-oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons

From measurements by an Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS), secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed in laboratory chambers is believed to be less oxidized than well-oxidized ambient organic aerosol (OA). However, the mass spectrum of SOA formed from the photo-oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons has not been sufficiently studied by using AMS though these reactions are potential sources of urban SOA. In this study, we studied SOA formed from the photo-oxidation of seven aromatic hydrocarbons by using Time-of-Flight AMS. Strong mass signals from SOA were found at m/ z 43 (m43) and 44 (m44) in all the experiments. The m44 to total organic aerosol mass ratio (m44/OA) increased with irradiation time. For example, the m44/OA ratio increased from 10.6% to 13.3% during irradiation for 11 h in an experiment with toluene. The average m44/OA ratios were determined to be 5.8–17.1% for all the experiments. The m44/OA decreased and the m43/OA increased with increasing number of alkyl substituents of precursor aromatic hydrocarbons. This is because low-reactive ketones are preferentially produced rather than aldehydes with increasing number of alkyl substituents. The m44/OA ratios of the benzene and monoalkylbenzene oxidation were 12.2–17.1% and were close to those of well-oxidized ambient OA. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the photo-oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons is a potential source of urban SOA. In addition to oxygenated organic compounds, organic nitrogen oxides were also shown to be present in SOA by high-resolution mass spectra.

Reactions of Semivolatile Organics and Their Effects on Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) constitutes a significant fraction of total atmospheric particulate loading, but there is evidence that SOA yields based on laboratory studies may underestimate atmospheric SOA. Here we present chamber data on SOA growth from the photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons, finding that SOA yields are systematically lower when inorganic seed particles are not initially present. This indicates that concentrations of semivolatile oxidation products are influenced by processes beyond gas-particle partitioning, such as chemical reactions and/or loss to chamber walls. Predictions of a kinetic model in which semivolatile compounds may undergo reactions in both the gas and particle phases in addition to partitioning are qualitatively consistent with the observed seed effect, as well as with a number of other recently observed features of SOA formation chemistry. The behavior arises from a kinetic competition between uptake to the particle phase and reactive loss of the semivolatile product. It is shown that when hydrocarbons react in the absence of preexisting organic aerosol, such loss processes may lead to measured SOA yields lower than would occur under atmospheric conditions. These results underscore the need to conduct studies of SOA formation in the presence of atmospherically relevant aerosol loadings.

Diurnal changes in the distribution of dicarboxylic acids, ketocarboxylic acids and dicarbonyls in the urban Tokyo atmosphere

Secondary organic aerosol in the urban atmosphere is an important issue of not only local air pollution but also regional and global atmospheric chemistry. To better understand the production of water-soluble organic aerosols, we analyzed time-series aerosol samples collected in Tokyo every 3 h during summer and winter campaigns for homologous dicarboxylic acids (C2–C10), ketocarboxylic acids (C2–C4) and α-dicarbonyls (C2–C3) using a GC and GC/MS. Here, we report, for the first time, diurnal distributions of dicarboxylic acids, ketoacids and dicarbonys in the urban atmosphere. Oxalic acid was found as the most abundant species, followed by malonic, succinic, phthalic, pyruvic and glyoxylic acids. Total concentrations of diacids, ketoacids and dicarbonyls showed a concentration maximum in daytime (11–14 h) with a dynamic change in their molecular composition especially in summer samples. Relative abundances of unsaturated (maleic, methylmaleic and phthalic) and some saturated (methylsuccinic and adipic) species increased in the morning (8–11 h) whereas those of oxalic acid decreased down to 35% in 8–11 h but increased up to 58% toward 17–20 h. The diurnal variations are interpreted by photochemical production of diacids, where unsaturated and some saturated species are preferentially generated early in the morning via photo-oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons and cyclic olefins and further oxidized to oxalic acid in the afternoon.

Simulating the Formation of Secondary Organic Aerosol from the Photooxidation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Environmental Context. Atmospheric particulate material can affect the radiative balance of the atmosphere and is believed to be detrimental to human health. Secondary organic aerosols (SOA), which make a significant contribution to the total atmospheric burden of fine particulate material, are formed in situ following the photochemical transformation of organic pollutants into relatively less-volatile, oxygenated compounds which can subsequently transfer from the gas phase to a particle phase. SOA formation from the atmospheric photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons—present, for example, as a result of automobile use—is believed to be important in the urban environment and yet the mechanisms are not well understood. For example, even the reasons for observed variations in the relative propensity for SOA formation, from the photooxidation of various simple aromatic hydrocarbons, are not clear. Abstract. The formation and composition of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from the photooxidation of benzene, p-xylene, and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene has been simulated using the Master Chemical Mechanism version 3.1 (MCM v3.1) coupled to a representation of the transfer of organic material from the gas to particle phase. The combined mechanism was tested against data obtained from a series of experiments conducted at the European Photoreactor (EUPHORE) outdoor smog chamber in Valencia, Spain. Simulated aerosol mass concentrations compared reasonably well with the measured SOA data only after absorptive partitioning coefficients were increased by a factor of between 5 and 30. The requirement of such scaling was interpreted in terms of the occurrence of unaccounted-for association reactions in the condensed organic phase leading to the production of relatively more nonvolatile species. Comparisons were made between the relative aerosol forming efficiencies of benzene, toluene, p-xylene, and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, and differences in the OH-initiated degradation mechanisms of these aromatic hydrocarbons. A strong, nonlinear relationship was observed between measured (reference) yields of SOA and (proportional) yields of unsaturated dicarbonyl aldehyde species resulting from ring-fragmenting pathways. This observation, and the results of the simulations, is strongly suggestive of the involvement of reactive aldehyde species in association reactions occurring in the aerosol phase, thus promoting SOA formation and growth. The effect of NOx concentrations on SOA formation efficiencies (and formation mechanisms) is discussed.

Kinetic study of the gas-phase photolysis and OH radical reaction of E,Z- and E,E-2,4-Hexadienedial

Unsaturated 1,6-dicarbonyls like 2,4-hexadienedial are ring opening products in the OH initiated photo-oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons. In the present study, the photolysis of E,Z- and E,E-2,4-hexadienedial has been investigated under natural sunlight conditions in a large volume outdoor reaction chamber. In the case of the E,Z-isomer, an extremely rapid isomerization into the E,E-form was observed. The photoisomerization frequency, relative to that of NO2, was found to be J(E,Z-2,4-hexadienedial)/J(NO2) = (0.148 ± 0.012). A more complex photolysis behavior was observed for E,E-2,4-hexadienedial. Here, a fast equilibrium preceded a comparably slow photolysis. For the equilibrium reaction, relative frequencies of J(E,E-2,4-hexadienedial → EQUI)/J(NO2) = (0.113 ± 0.009) and J(EQUI → E,E-2,4-hexadienedial)/J(NO2) = (0.192 ± 0.016) were obtained, giving an equilibrium constant of K = (0.59 ± 0.07). For the photolysis frequencies, ratios of J(E,E-2,4-hexadienedial → products)/J(NO2) = J(EQUI → products)/J(NO2) = (1.22 ± 0.45)·10−2 were determined. Qualitative aerosol measurements during the experiments showed that the photolysis of 2,4-hexadienedials is a source of secondary organic aerosol. In addition to the photolysis study, OH radical reaction rate constants were determined, values of (7.4 ± 1.9)·10−11 and (7.6 ± 0.8)·10−11 cm3 s−1 were obtained for E,Z- and E,E-2,4-hexadienedial, respectively. The results indicate that the dominant fate of E,Z-2,4-hexadienedial in the atmosphere will be photoisomerization, while for E,E-2,4-hexadienedial, both photolysis and OH radical reaction will be important sinks. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 689–697, 1999

New results on the atmospheric photooxidation of simple alkylbenzenes

A study of the photolysis of two postulated intermediates in the OH initiated photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene oxide/oxepin and toluene-1,2-oxide/2-methyloxepin, has been conducted under the real light conditions of a large volume outdoor reaction chamber. The main focus of the study was on the formation of the hydroxylated aromatic hydrocarbons, i.e., phenol from benzene oxide/oxepin and the cresol isomers from toluene-1,2-oxide/2-methyloxepin. Photolysis frequencies were measured relative to that of NO 2, which was determined with a filter radiometer. A linear dependency was found within the experimental errors, the ratios of the photolysis frequencies of the arene oxides to that of NO 2 were found to be (4.41±0.44)·10 −2 and (3.99±0.48)·10 −2 for benzene oxide/oxepin and toluene-1,2-oxide/2-methyloxepin, respectively. The yield of phenol in the photolysis of benzene oxide/oxepin was found to be (43.2±4.5)%, independent of the light intensity. For toluene-1,2-oxide/2-methyloxepin, an o-cresol yield of (2.7±2.2)% was determined, the formation of other cresol isomers was not observed. The results obtained are in agreement with arene oxides being intermediates in the atmospheric photooxidation of benzene and toluene, they are discussed with regard to their implications for the formation of hydroxylated aromatics in the OH initiated photooxidation of benzene and toluene.