Grantee Research Project Results
Mathematical model for gas-particle partitioning of secondary organic aerosols.
Citation:
Bowman FM, Odum JR, Seinfeld JH, Pandis SN. Mathematical model for gas-particle partitioning of secondary organic aerosols. Atmospheric Environment 1997;31(23):3921-3931.
Abstract:
A dynamic model is developed for gas-particle absorptive partitioning of semi-volatile organic aerosols. The model is applied to simulate a pair of m-xylene/NOx outdoor smog chamber experiments. In the presence of an inorganic seed aerosol a threshold for aerosol formation is predicted. An examination of characteristic times suggests conditions where an assumption of instantaneous gas-particle equilibrium is justified. Semi-volatile products that are second-generation, rather than first-generation, products of a parent hydrocarbon cause a delay in aerosol formation due to the delayed rate at which the second-generation products are formed. The gas-particle accommodation coefficient is the principal transport parameter and is estimated to have a value between 1.0 and 0.1 for the m-xylene aerosol.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.