394
Views
11
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

The Effect of Water Vapor on Ozone Synthesis in the Photo-oxidation of Alpha-pinene

&
Pages 629-635 | Published online: 15 Mar 2012
 

Abstract

A study of the effect of water vapor on the photochemical system NO2 + alphapinene + hv was conducted. A Hotpack Environmental Room was used as a constant temperature chamber, a bank of ultraviolet and fluorescent lamps as a source of simulated solar radiation, and a 150-liter FEP Teflon bag as a reaction vessel. Representative concentrations of 10 pphm NO2 and 50 pphm alphapinene were used in a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial design where absolute humidities of 0.0000, 0.0090, 0.01 80 g H2O/g dry air were varied.

Matheson zero air was passed through a clean air train and used as the diluent. Nitrogen dioxide was added to the reaction mixture by a permeation tube, and water and alpha-pinene by evaporation techniques.

Variables measured as a function of time over a 2-hour irradiation period were total oxidants (Mast Ozone Meter), condensation nuclei (General Electric Small Particle Detector), ozone (Regener Chemiluminescent Ozone Meter), nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide (Technicon Autoanalyzer), and alpha-pinene (Perkin- Elmer Model 800 gas chromatograph).

Upon irradiation, systems containing nitrogen dioxide and alpha-pinene formed oxidants, ozone, condensation nuclei, and nitric oxide. Based on the differences between simultaneous oxidant and ozone measurements, the formation of peroxide- like compounds may be inferred. During the course of the irradiation, nitrogen dioxide and alpha-pinene were consumed. The concentration-time profiles of all variables were characteristic of those exhibited by typical photochemical smog systems.

An effect of water vapor on the systems studied was demonstrated. Increasing humidity decreased net mean/time oxidant and ozone production and net maximum condensation nuclei production. These effects were significant at a 0.05 confidence level. Effects of water on average mean/time NO2, NO, and alphapinene concentrations were insignificant at this level. The oxidant to ozone ratio was found to decrease with increasing humidity.

The significant decreases in net oxidant and ozone production and NO2 consumption with increasing water vapor concentration in systems of nitrogen dioxide alone, suggests that water manifests an effect on pertinent inorganic reactions, and the data also suggest additional water participation in the organic reactions.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.