Grantee Research Project Results

Predicting Day and Nighttime Aerosol Yields from Biogenic Hydrocarbons with a GasBParticle Phase Kinetic Model

EPA Grant Number: R828176
Title: Predicting Day and Nighttime Aerosol Yields from Biogenic Hydrocarbons with a GasBParticle Phase Kinetic Model
Investigators: Kamens, Richard M. , Jeffries, Harvey E. , Jaoui, Mohammed
Current Investigators: Kamens, Richard M.
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: July 17, 2000 through July 16, 2002 (Extended to July 16, 2003)
Project Amount: $225,000
RFA: Exploratory Research - Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics) (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Water , Land and Waste Management , Air , Safer Chemicals

Description:

This proposal describes a methodology to develop a predictive model for biogenic aerosol formation from the reaction of three terpenes, a-pinene, b-pinene, and d-limonene, in the presence of OH, NOx O3, and natural sunlight.

Objectives/Hypothesis:

1. Provide product data for sound kinetics and reaction mechanism development. 2. Implement a gas-particle partitioning model that is valid for the range of different atmospheric chemical conditions involved in secondary aerosol formation. 3. Provide an experimental data base to test and evaluate these models over a variety of different ambient situations.

Approach:

To achieve objective 1., we will generate outdoor chamber data over a range of temperatures, sunlight and NOx conditions with a-pinene, b-pinene, and d-limonene. Product oxygenates and nitrates will be measured with newly developed analytical techniques. For objective 2., it will be necessary to measure the vapor pressures of partitioning secondary aerosol compounds. For objective 3., special outdoor chamber experiments with product aldehydes will first be run to determine quantum yields and rates of photolysis.

Expected Results:

This research will produce a model which can be used to predict secondary aerosol yields from terpene biogenic hydrocarbons. It can be directly integrated into airshed models so that secondary aerosol production can be addressed on an urban or regional scale. These can then be compared with the amounts and relative risks from other potentially regulated PM2.5 aerosol sources.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 17 publications for this project

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 17 journal articles for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

biogenic aerosols, kinetic model, a-pinene, b-pinene, d-limonene, gas-particle partitioning, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Monitoring, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, ambient aerosol, gas/particle partitioning, aerosol formation, nitrates, oxygenates, kinetic models, biogenic hydrocarbons, photolysis wavelength, terpenes, biogenic aerosols, atmospheric models

Progress and Final Reports:

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.