Abstract :
The atmospheric oxidation of isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, C5H8) leads to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). In this study, the mechanism of SOA formation by isoprene photooxidation is comprehensively investigated, by measurements of SOA yields over a range of experimental conditions, namely isoprene and NOx concentrations. Hydrogen peroxide is used as the radical precursor, substantially constraining the observed gas-phase chemistry; all oxidation is dominated by the OH radical, and organic peroxy radicals (RO2) react only with HO2 (formed in the OH+ H2O2 reaction) or NO concentrations, including NOx free conditions. At high NOx, yields are found to decrease substantially with increasing [NOx], indicating the importance of RO2 chemistry in SOA formation. Under low-NOx conditions, SOA mass is observed to decay rapidly, a result of chemical reactions of semi-volatile SOA components, most likely organic hydroperoxides.
Outlines:
- Mechanism of SOA formation from isoprene oxidation
- Laboratory measurements of aerosol growth from isoprene oxidation
- Gas-phase oxidation
- NOx level (RO2 chemistry)