Secondary organic aerosol production from terpene ozonolysis. 2. Effect of NOx concentration

Environ Sci Technol. 2005 Sep 15;39(18):7046-54. doi: 10.1021/es050400s.

Abstract

We report secondary organic aerosol (SOA) yields from the ozonolysis of alpha-pinene in the presence of NO and NO2. Experimental conditions are characterized by the [VOC]0/ [NOx]0 ratio (ppbC/ppb), which varies from approximately 1 to approximately 300. SOA yield is constant for [VOC]0/[NOx]0 > approximately 15 and decreases dramatically (by more than a factor of 4) as [VOC]0/[NOx]0 decreases. Aerosol production is completely suppressed in the presence of NO for [VOC]0/[NOx]0 < or = 4.5. Fouriertransform IR analysis of filter samples reveals that nitrate-containing species contribute significantly to the total aerosol mass at low [VOC]0/[NOx]0. Yield reduction is a result of the formation of a more volatile product distribution as [VOC]0/[NOx]0 decreases; we propose that the change in the product distribution is driven by changes in the gas-phase chemistry as NOx concentration increases. We also present two-product model parameters to describe aerosol production from the alpha-pinene/0/NOx system under both high- and low-NOx conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols / analysis
  • Air Pollutants / analysis
  • Atmosphere
  • Bicyclic Monoterpenes
  • Gases
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Statistical
  • Monoterpenes / analysis
  • Nitric Oxide / analysis*
  • Nitrogen Dioxide / analysis*
  • Nitrogen Oxides / analysis*
  • Organic Chemicals / analysis*
  • Oxidants, Photochemical / analysis
  • Ozone / analysis*
  • Particle Size
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Terpenes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Air Pollutants
  • Bicyclic Monoterpenes
  • Gases
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Monoterpenes
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Oxidants, Photochemical
  • Terpenes
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Ozone
  • alpha-pinene
  • Nitrogen Dioxide