Enhanced H-abstraction contribution for oxidation of xylenes via mineral particles: Implications for particulate matter formation and human health.

Xylenes are important aromatic hydrocarbons having broad industrial emissions and profound implication to air quality and human health. Generally, homogeneous atmospheric oxidation of xylenes is initiated by hydroxyl radical (OH) resulting in minor H-abstraction and major OH-addition pathways. However, the effect of mineral particles on the homogeneous atmospheric oxidation mechanism of xylenes is still not well understood. In the present study, the heterogeneous atmospheric oxidation of xylenes on mineral particles (TiO2) is examined in detail. Both the experimental data and theoretical calculations are combined to achieve the feast. The experimental results detected a major H-abstraction (≥87.18%) and minor OH-addition (≤12.82%) pathways for the OH-initiated heterogeneous oxidation of three xylenes on TiO2 under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Theoretical calculations demonstrated favorable H-abstraction on methyl group of xylenes by surface OH with large exothermic energies, because of the reason that their methyl group rather than the phenyl ring is more occupied by TiO2 via hydrogen bonding. Furthermore, the particle monitor and acute risk assessment results indicated that the H-abstraction products significantly enhance the formation of particulate matter and health risk to human beings. Taken together, these results indicate that the atmospheric oxidation mechanism of xylenes is altered in the presence of mineral particles, highlighting the necessity to re-evaluate its implication in the environment and human health.