Atmospheric degradation of volatile organic compounds

. Kinetic and mechanistic data relevant to the tropospheric degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOC), and the production of secondary pollutants, have previously been used to define a protocol which underpinned the construction of a near-explicit Master Chemical Mechanism. In this paper, an update to the previous protocol is presented, which has been used to define degradation schemes for 107 non-aromatic VOC as part of version 3 of the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM v3). The treatment of 18 aromatic VOC is described in a companion paper. The protocol is divided into a series of subsections describing initiation reactions, the reactions of the radical intermediates and the further degradation of first and subsequent generation products. Emphasis is placed on updating the previous information, and outlining the methodology which is specifically applicable to VOC not considered previously (e.g. a - and b -pinene). The present protocol aims to take into consideration work available in the open literature up to the beginning of 2001, and some other studies known by the authors which were under review at the time. Application of MCM v3 in appropriate box models indicates that the representation of isoprene degradation provides a good description of the speciated distribution of oxygenated organic products observed in reported field studies where isoprene was the dominant emitted hydrocarbon, and that the a -pinene degradation chemistry provides a good description of the time dependence of key gas phase species in a -pinene/NOX photo-oxidation experiments carried out in the European Photoreactor (EUPHORE). Photochemical Ozone Creation Potentials (POCP) have been calculated for the 106 non-aromatic non-methane VOC in MCM v3 for idealised conditions appropriate to north-west Europe, using a photochemical trajectory model. The POCP values provide a measure of the relative ozone forming abilities of the VOC. Where applicable, the values are compared with those calculated with previous versions of the MCM.

/pdf/protocol-for-the-development-of-the-master-chemical-21efizove5.pdf

Protocol for the development of the Master Chemical Mechanism, MCM v3 (Part A): tropospheric degradation of non-aromatic volatile organic compounds

A new gas-phase chemical mechanism for the modeling of regional atmospheric chemistry, the “Regional Atmospheric Chemistry Mechanism” (RACM) is presented. The mechanism is intended to be valid for remote to polluted conditions and from the Earth's surface through the upper troposphere. The RACM mechanism is based upon the earlier Regional Acid Deposition Model, version 2 (RADM2) mechanism [Stockwell et al., 1990] and the more detailed Euro-RADM mechanism [Stockwell and Kley, 1994]. The RACM mechanism includes rate constants and product yields from the most recent laboratory measurements, and it has been tested against environmental chamber data. A new condensed reaction mechanism is included for biogenic compounds: isoprene, α-pinene, and d-limonene. The branching ratios for alkane decay were reevaluated, and in the revised mechanism the aldehyde to ketone ratios were significantly reduced. The relatively large amounts of nitrates resulting from the reactions of unbranched alkenes with NO3 are now included, and the production of HO from the ozonolysis of alkenes has a much greater yield. The aromatic chemistry has been revised through the use of new laboratory data. The yield of cresol production from aromatics was reduced, while the reactions of HO, NO3, and O3 with unsaturated dicarbonyl species and unsaturated peroxynitrate are now included in the RACM mechanism. The peroxyacetyl nitrate chemistry and the organic peroxy radical-peroxy radical reactions were revised, and organic peroxy radical +NO3 reactions were added.

/pdf/a-new-mechanism-for-regional-atmospheric-chemistry-modeling-1xgvkhtnkg.pdf

A new mechanism for regional atmospheric chemistry modeling

The tropospheric degradation of volatile organic compounds: a protocol for mechanism development

Ozone holds a certain fascination in atmospheric science. It is ubiquitous in the atmosphere, central to tropospheric oxidation chemistry, yet harmful to human and ecosystem health as well as being an important greenhouse gas. It is not emitted into the atmosphere but is a by-product of the very oxidation chemistry it largely initiates. Much effort is focussed on the reduction of surface levels of ozone owing to its health impacts but recent efforts to achieve reductions in exposure at a country scale have proved difficult to achieve due to increases in background ozone at the zonal hemispheric scale. There is also a growing realisation that the role of ozone as a short-lived climate pollutant could be important in integrated air quality climate-change mitigation. This review examines current understanding of the processes regulating tropospheric ozone at global to local scales from both measurements and models. It takes the view that knowledge across the scales is important for dealing with air quality and climate change in a synergistic manner.

/pdf/tropospheric-ozone-and-its-precursors-from-the-urban-to-the-1p9j5d9h0o.pdf

G. D. Hayman

Papers

Organic peroxy radicals: Kinetics, spectroscopy and tropospheric chemistry

Trospospheric degradation chemistry of HCFC-123 (CF3CHCl2): A proposed replacement chlorofluorocarbon

Laser Flash Photolysis Study of the UV Spectrum and Kinetics of Reactions of HOCH2CH2O2 Radicals.

Kinetics of the Reaction of NO3 with HO2

Kinetics and Mechanism of the Photooxidation of Formaldehyde. Part 2. Molecular Modulation Studies