Organic nitrate formation in the radical-initiated oxidation of model aerosol particles in the presence of NOx

Renbaum, LH; Smith, GD

HERO ID

206712

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2009

Language

English

PMID

19727511

HERO ID 206712
In Press No
Year 2009
Title Organic nitrate formation in the radical-initiated oxidation of model aerosol particles in the presence of NOx
Authors Renbaum, LH; Smith, GD
Journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume 11
Issue 36
Page Numbers 8040-8047
Abstract Using a flow tube reactor coupled to a chemical ionization mass spectrometer, the Cl-initiated oxidation of solid and supercooled liquid brassidic acid (BA, trans-13-docosenoic acid) particles was investigated in the presence of NO and NO2. For the first time, organic nitrate formation from the heterogeneous oxidation of model organic aerosols in the presence of NO was observed, but none was formed by the addition of up to 600 ppb of NO2. Also, no nitrate formation was observed in liquid particles, but the nitrate yields in the solid particles were measured to be as large as 6% with a negative temperature dependence over the range 259-293 K. The corresponding effective activation energy of -7.5 (+/-4.4) kJ mol(-1) suggests that the mechanism of particulate organic nitrate formation is analogous to the termolecular gas-phase reaction of . The yields are smaller than those from analogous gas-phase reactions, but this may result from photodissociation of the nitrate by the UV (355 nm) laser for which there is indirect evidence. Additionally, enhanced rates of the RO2+RO2 reactions in the condensed phase could lead to smaller nitrate yields. The results suggest that slower diffusion of the RO2 radicals in the solid particles compared to the liquid particles makes the RO2+NO reaction competitive with the RO2+RO2 reactions and results in nitrate formation near the surface of the particle. The organic nitrates formed in these experiments are observed intact after the reacted particles have been vaporized at temperatures up to 380 degrees C suggesting that they are thermally stable in the troposphere and may enable long-range transport of NOx if they photodissociate on the timescale of days. The findings from these experiments are not specific to unsaturated carboxylic acids but should apply to nearly all particulate hydrocarbons, and they indicate that the particle phase could be important in determining how organic aerosols evolve chemically through radical-initiated oxidation in polluted atmospheres.
Doi 10.1039/b909239k
Pmid 19727511
Wosid WOS:000269548300030
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments Source: Web of Science WOS:000269548300030
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword *Aerosols/ch [Chemistry]; *Atmosphere/ch [Chemistry]; Free Radicals/ch [Chemistry]; Gases/ch [Chemistry]; Models, Chemical; *Nitrates/cs [Chemical Synthesis]; *Nitric Oxide/ch [Chemistry]; *Organic Chemicals/cs [Chemical Synthesis]; Oxidation-Reduction; Particle Size; *Particulate Matter/ch [Chemistry]; 0 (Aerosols); 0 (Free Radicals); 0 (Gases); 0 (Nitrates); 0 (Organic Chemicals); 0 (Particulate Matter); 10102-43-9 (Nitric Oxide)
Is Qa No