Secondary organic aerosol formation by irradiation of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene-NOx-H2O in a new reaction chamber for atmospheric chemistry and physics

Environ Sci Technol. 2005 Apr 15;39(8):2668-78. doi: 10.1021/es0489137.

Abstract

A new environmental reaction smog chamber was built to simulate particle formation and growth similar to that expected in the atmosphere. The organic material is formed from nucleation of photooxidized organic compounds. The chamber is a 27 m3 fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) bag suspended in a temperature-controlled enclosure. Four xenon arc lamps (16 kW total) are used to irradiate primary gas components for experiments lasting up to 24 h. Experiments using irradiations of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene-NOx-H2O at similar input concentrations without seed particles were used to determine particle number and volume concentration wall loss rates of 0.209+/-0.018 and 0.139+/-0.070 h(-1), respectively. The particle formation was compared with and without propene.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols / analysis
  • Aerosols / chemistry*
  • Air Pollutants / analysis
  • Alkenes / chemistry
  • Atmosphere / chemistry
  • Benzene Derivatives / chemistry*
  • Chemistry, Physical / instrumentation
  • Chemistry, Physical / methods*
  • Nitrogen Oxides / chemistry*
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Oxidants, Photochemical / analysis
  • Radiation
  • Smog / analysis
  • Temperature
  • Time Factors
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • 1,3,5-trimethylenebenzene
  • Aerosols
  • Air Pollutants
  • Alkenes
  • Benzene Derivatives
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Oxidants, Photochemical
  • Smog
  • Water
  • propylene