Science Inventory

FORMATION OF 2-METHYL TETROLS AND 2-METHYLGLYCERIC ACID IN SECONDARY ORGANIC AEROSOL FROM LABORATORY IRRADIATED ISOPRENE/NO X/SO 2/AIR MIXTURES AND THEIR DETECTION IN AMBIENT PM 2.5 SAMPLES COLLECTED IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES

Citation:

EDNEY, E. O., T. E. KLEINDIENST, M. JAOUI, M. LEWANDOWSKI, J. H. OFFENBERG, W. WANG, AND M. CLAEYS. FORMATION OF 2-METHYL TETROLS AND 2-METHYLGLYCERIC ACID IN SECONDARY ORGANIC AEROSOL FROM LABORATORY IRRADIATED ISOPRENE/NO X/SO 2/AIR MIXTURES AND THEIR DETECTION IN AMBIENT PM 2.5 SAMPLES COLLECTED IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 39(32):5281-5289, (2005).

Impact/Purpose:

1. Using laboratory and field study data generated during FY99-FY04, develop a science version of a PM chemistry model for predicting ambient concentrations of water, inorganics, and organics in PM2.5 samples. The model will include the Aerosol Inorganic Model for predicting concentrations of inorganic compounds and a computational chemistry-based method for predicting concentrations of organic compounds.

2. Identify and evaluate methods for analyzing the polar fraction of PM2.5 samples.

3. Carry out short term field studies in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina in the summer and the winter to determine the composition of the organic fraction of ambient PM2.5 samples, with special emphasis placed on identifying and determining ambient concentrations of polar compounds.

4. Conduct laboratory studies to establish the chemical composition of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and to determine source signatures for aromatic and biogenic SOA.

5. Conduct laboratory and theoretical investigations of thermodynamic properties of polar organic compounds.

6. Evaluate the science version of the PM chemistry model using laboratory and field data generated under this task as well as other available data in the literature.

7. Conduct PM chemistry-related special studies for OAQPS

Description:

A series of isoprene/NOx/air irradiation experiments, carried out in both the absence and presence of SO2, were conducted to assess whether isoprene contributes to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. In the absence of SO2 , the SOA yield of 0.002 was low. However, in the presence of SO2, the SOA yield increased significantly to 0.028 and 2-methylthreitol, 2-methylerythritol and 2-methylglyceric acid were detected in the laboratory SOA samples. These same compounds have been observed in ambient PM2.5 samples collected in the eastern United States. These results suggest isoprene may be contributing to ambient PM2.5, although additional research is required to accurately determine its contribution.

Record Details:

Record Type:DOCUMENT( JOURNAL/ PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL)
Product Published Date:10/01/2005
Record Last Revised:10/24/2008
OMB Category:Other
Record ID: 135924