Kinetics of the reaction of OH with methyl nitrate (223-343 K).

Rate coefficients (k4) for the reaction of hydroxyl radicals (OH) with methyl nitrate (CH3ONO2) were measured over the temperature range 232-343 K using pulsed laser photolysis to generate OH and pulsed laser-induced fluorescence to detect it in real-time and under pseudo-first-order conditions. In order to optimize the accuracy of the rate coefficients obtained, the concentration of CH3ONO2 (the reactant in excess) was measured on-line by absorption spectroscopy at 213.86 nm for which the absorption cross-section was also measured (σ213.86 = 1.65 ± 0.09 × 10-18 cm2 molecule-1). The temperature-dependent rate coefficient is described by k4(T) = 7.5 × 10-13 exp[(-1034 ± 40)/T] cm3 molecule-1 s-1 with a room temperature rate coefficient of k4(296 ± 2 K) = (2.32 ± 0.12) × 10-14 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 where the uncertainty includes the statistical error of 2σ and an estimation of the potential systematic bias of 5%. This new dataset helps to consolidate the database for this rate coefficient and to reduce uncertainty in the atmospheric lifetime of CH3ONO2. As part of this study, an approximate rate coefficient for the reaction of H-atoms with CH3ONO2 (k9) was also derived at room temperature: k9(298 K) = (1.68 ± 0.45) × 10-13 cm3 molecule-1 s-1.

Rate Coefficients for OH + NO (+N2) in the Fall-off Regime and the Impact of Water Vapor.

The termolecular, association reaction between OH and NO is a source of nitrous acid (HONO), an important atmospheric trace gas. Rate coefficients for the title reaction as recommended by evaluation panels differ substantially at the temperatures and pressures that prevail in the Earth's boundary layer where the reaction is in the fall-off regime between low- and high-pressure limiting rate coefficients. Using pulsed laser methods for generation and detection of OH, we have reinvestigated the kinetics of the title reaction at pressures of 22-743 Torr (1 Torr = 1.333 hPa) and temperatures (273, 298, and 333 K) in pure N2 and in N2-H2O bath gases. In situ optical absorption measurements were used to rule out any bias due to NO2 or HONO impurities. Our rate coefficients (k1) in N2 bath gas are parametrized in terms of low-pressure (k0) and high-pressure (k∞) rate coefficients and a fall-off parameter (FC) with k1,0N2 = 7.24 × 10-31 (T/300 K)-2.17 cm6 molecule-2 s-1, k1,∞ = 3.3 × 10-12 (T/300 K)-0.3 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, and FC = 0.53. Used with the "Troe" expression for termolecular reactions, these parameters accurately reproduce the current data in the fall-off regime and also capture literature rate coefficients at extrapolated temperatures. The presence of water vapor was found to enhance the rate coefficients of the title reaction significantly. The low-pressure limiting rate coefficient in H2O bath gas is a factor 5-6 larger than in N2, at room temperature (k1,0H2O = 4.55 × 10-30 (T/300 K)-4.85 cm6 molecule-2 s-1) indicating that H2O is much more efficient in quenching the association complex HONO* through collisional energy transfer. Based on measurements in N2-H2O mixtures, a parametrization of k1 including both N2 and H2O as third-body quenchers was derived. Neglecting the effect of H2O results, e.g., in an underestimation of k1 by >10% in the tropical boundary layer.

Characterization of two photon excited fragment spectroscopy (TPEFS) for HNO3 detection in gas-phase kinetic experiments.

We have developed and tested two-photon excited fragment spectroscopy (TPEFS) for detecting HNO3 in pulsed laser photolysis kinetic experiments. Dispersed (220-330 nm) and time-dependent emission at (310 ± 5) nm following the 193 nm excitation of HNO3 in N2, air and He was recorded and analysed to characterise the OH(A2Σ) and NO(A2Σ+) electronic excited states involved. The limit of detection for HNO3 using TPEFS was ∼5 × 109 molecule cm-3 (at 60 torr N2 and 180 µs integration time). Detection of HNO3 using the emission at (310 ± 5 nm) was orders of magnitude more sensitive than detection of NO and NO2, especially in the presence of O2 which quenches NO(A2Σ+) more efficiently than OH(A2Σ). While H2O2 (and possibly HO2) could also be detected by 193 nm TPEFS, the relative sensitivity (compared to HNO3) was very low. The viability of real-time TPEFS detection of HNO3 using emission at (310 ± 5) nm was demonstrated by monitoring HNO3 formation in the reaction of OH + NO2 and deriving the rate coefficient, k2. The value of k2 obtained at 293 K and pressures of 50-200 torr is entirely consistent with that obtained by simultaneously measuring the OH decay and is in very good agreement with the most recent literature values.

The Essential Role for Laboratory Studies in Atmospheric Chemistry.

Laboratory studies of atmospheric chemistry characterize the nature of atmospherically relevant processes down to the molecular level, providing fundamental information used to assess how human activities drive environmental phenomena such as climate change, urban air pollution, ecosystem health, indoor air quality, and stratospheric ozone depletion. Laboratory studies have a central role in addressing the incomplete fundamental knowledge of atmospheric chemistry. This article highlights the evolving science needs for this community and emphasizes how our knowledge is far from complete, hindering our ability to predict the future state of our atmosphere and to respond to emerging global environmental change issues. Laboratory studies provide rich opportunities to expand our understanding of the atmosphere via collaborative research with the modeling and field measurement communities, and with neighboring disciplines.

Nitrate radicals and biogenic volatile organic compounds: oxidation, mechanisms, and organic aerosol.

Oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) by the nitrate radical (NO3) represents one of the important interactions between anthropogenic emissions related to combustion and natural emissions from the biosphere. This interaction has been recognized for more than 3 decades, during which time a large body of research has emerged from laboratory, field, and modeling studies. NO3-BVOC reactions influence air quality, climate and visibility through regional and global budgets for reactive nitrogen (particularly organic nitrates), ozone, and organic aerosol. Despite its long history of research and the significance of this topic in atmospheric chemistry, a number of important uncertainties remain. These include an incomplete understanding of the rates, mechanisms, and organic aerosol yields for NO3-BVOC reactions, lack of constraints on the role of heterogeneous oxidative processes associated with the NO3 radical, the difficulty of characterizing the spatial distributions of BVOC and NO3 within the poorly mixed nocturnal atmosphere, and the challenge of constructing appropriate boundary layer schemes and non-photochemical mechanisms for use in state-of-the-art chemical transport and chemistry-climate models. This review is the result of a workshop of the same title held at the Georgia Institute of Technology in June 2015. The first half of the review summarizes the current literature on NO3-BVOC chemistry, with a particular focus on recent advances in instrumentation and models, and in organic nitrate and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation chemistry. Building on this current understanding, the second half of the review outlines impacts of NO3-BVOC chemistry on air quality and climate, and suggests critical research needs to better constrain this interaction to improve the predictive capabilities of atmospheric models.

Glyoxal measurement with a proton transfer reaction time of flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS): characterization and calibration.

We examine the potential for PTR-TOF-MS systems to quantitatively measure glyoxal in ambient air by characterizing the response of the instrument to a dilute glyoxal sample, calibrating the system as a function of humidity. The concentration of glyoxal in a sample air-stream was measured with an UV absorption spectrometer in parallel to a PTR-TOF-MS. This calibration demonstrated that the PTR-TOF-MS has a relatively low sensitivity to glyoxal particularly at high humidity. Extensive fragmentation of glyoxal to formaldehyde was observed. This behaviour not only desensitizes PTR-MS system to glyoxal; it may also pose a problem to the quantification of formaldehyde. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Mass Spectrometry Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Aerosol Chemistry Resolved by Mass Spectrometry: Linking Field Measurements of Cloud Condensation Nuclei Activity to Organic Aerosol Composition.

Aerosol hygroscopic properties were linked to its chemical composition by using complementary online mass spectrometric techniques in a comprehensive chemical characterization study at a rural mountaintop station in central Germany in August 2012. In particular, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry ((-)APCI-MS) provided measurements of organic acids, organosulfates, and nitrooxy-organosulfates in the particle phase at 1 min time resolution. Offline analysis of filter samples enabled us to determine the molecular composition of signals appearing in the online (-)APCI-MS spectra. Aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS) provided quantitative measurements of total submicrometer organics, nitrate, sulfate, and ammonium. Inorganic sulfate measurements were achieved by semionline ion chromatography and were compared to the AMS total sulfate mass. We found that up to 40% of the total sulfate mass fraction can be covalently bonded to organic molecules. This finding is supported by both on- and offline soft ionization techniques, which confirmed the presence of several organosulfates and nitrooxy-organosulfates in the particle phase. The chemical composition analysis was compared to hygroscopicity measurements derived from a cloud condensation nuclei counter. We observed that the hygroscopicity parameter (κ) that is derived from organic mass fractions determined by AMS measurements may overestimate the observed κ up to 0.2 if a high fraction of sulfate is bonded to organic molecules and little photochemical aging is exhibited.

Reaction of hydroxyl radicals with C4H5N (pyrrole): temperature and pressure dependent rate coefficients.

Absolute (pulsed laser photolysis, 4-639 Torr N(2) or air, 240-357 K) and relative rate methods (50 and 760 Torr air, 296 K) were used to measure rate coefficients k(1) for the title reaction, OH + C(4)H(5)N → products (R1). Although the pressure and temperature dependent rate coefficient is adequately represented by a falloff parametrization, calculations of the potential energy surface indicate a complex reaction system with multiple reaction paths (addition only) in the falloff regime. At 298 K and 760 Torr (1 Torr = 1.33 mbar) the rate coefficient obtained from the parametrization is k(1) = (1.28 ± 0.1) × 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), in good agreement with the value of (1.10 ± 0.27) × 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) obtained in the relative rate study (relative to C(5)H(8), isoprene) at this temperature and pressure. The accuracy of the absolute rate coefficient determination was enhanced by online optical absorption measurements of the C(4)H(5)N concentration at 184.95 nm using a value σ(184.95nm) = (1.26 ± 0.02) × 10(-17) cm(2) molecule(-1), which was determined in this work.

Removal of the potent greenhouse gas NF3 by reactions with the atmospheric oxidants O(1D), OH and O3.

Nitrogen trifluoride, NF(3), a trace gas of purely anthropogenic origin with a large global warming potential is accumulating in the Earth's atmosphere. Large uncertainties are however associated with its atmospheric removal rate. In this work, experimental and theoretical kinetic tools were used to study the reactions of NF(3) with three of the principal gas-phase atmospheric oxidants: O((1)D), OH and O(3). For reaction (R2) with O((1)D), rate coefficients of k(2)(212-356 K) = (2.0 ± 0.3) × 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) were obtained in direct competitive kinetics experiments, and experimental and theoretical evidence was obtained for F-atom product formation. These results indicate that whilst photolysis in the stratosphere remains the principal fate of NF(3), reaction with O((1)D) is significant and was previously underestimated in atmospheric lifetime calculations. Experimental evidence of F-atom production from 248 nm photolysis of NF(3) was also obtained, indicating that quantum yields for NF(3) destruction remain significant throughout the UV. No evidence was found for reaction (R3) of NF(3) with OH indicating that this process makes little or no contribution to NF(3) removal from the atmosphere. An upper-limit of k(3)(298 K) < 4 × 10(-16) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) was obtained experimentally; theoretical analysis suggests that the true rate coefficient is more than ten orders of magnitude smaller. An upper-limit of k(4)(296 K) < 3 × 10(-25) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) was obtained in experiments to investigate O(3) + NF(3) (R4). Altogether these results underpin calculations of a long (several hundred year) lifetime for NF(3). In the course of this work rate coefficients (in units of 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)) for removal of O((1)D) by n-C(5)H(12), k(6) = (50 ± 5) and by N(2), k(7) = (3.1 ± 0.2) were obtained. Uncertainties quoted throughout are 2σ precision only.

Rate coefficients for the reaction of iodine oxide with methyl peroxy radicals.

Pulsed laser photolysis radical generation is used to study the title reaction IO+CH(3)O(2)→products. Sensitive and selective laser-induced fluorescence detection of IO allows excess CH(3)O(2) conditions to be maintained throughout, ensuring minimal interference from other fast IO reactions. The rate coefficients, k(5)(296 K)=(3.4±1.4)×10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), are obtained relative to a well-characterised reference value (k(3) for IO+HO(2)). This result agrees well with a previous determination from this laboratory and demonstrates that the above reaction proceeds an order of magnitude slower than suggested in other recent experimental and theoretical studies. Implications for HOx production/O(3) destruction within the marine boundary layer are briefly discussed.

LIF studies of iodine oxide chemistry. Part 3. Reactions IO + NO3 --> OIO + NO2, I + NO3 --> IO + NO2, and CH2I + O2 --> (products): implications for the chemistry of the marine atmosphere at night.

The technique of pulsed laser photolysis coupled to LIF detection of IO was used to study IO + NO(3) --> OIO + NO(2); I + NO(3) --> (products); CH(2)I + O(2) --> (products); and O((3)P) + CH(2)I(2) --> IO + CH(2)I, at ambient temperature. was observed for the first time in the laboratory and a rate coefficient of k(1 a) = (9 +/- 4) x 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) obtained. For , a value of k(2) (298 K) = (1.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) was obtained, and a IO product yield close to unity determined. IO was also formed in a close-to-unity yield in , whereas in an upper limit of alpha(3)(IO) < 0.12 was derived. The implications of these results for the nighttime chemistry of the atmosphere were discussed. Box model calculations showed that efficient OIO formation in was necessary to explain field observations of large OIO/IO ratios.

Reaction of HO with glycolaldehyde, HOCH2CHO: rate coefficients (240-362 K) and mechanism.

Absolute rate coefficients for the title reaction, HO+HOCH2CHO-->products (R1), were measured over the temperature range 240-362 K using the technique of pulsed laser photolytic generation of the HO radical coupled to detection by pulsed laser induced fluorescence. Within experimental error, the rate coefficient, k1, is independent of temperature over the range covered and is given by k1(240-362 K)=(8.0+/-0.8)x10(-12) cm3 molecule-1 s-1. The effects of the hydroxy substituent and hydrogen bonding on the rate coefficient are discussed based on theoretical calculations. The present results, which extend the database on the title reaction to a range of temperatures, indicate that R1 is the dominant loss process for HOCH2CHO throughout the troposphere. As part of this work, the absorption cross-section of HOCH2CHO at 184.9 nm was determined to be (3.85+/-0.2)x10(-18) cm2 molecule-1, and the quantum yield of HO formation from the photolysis of HOCH2CHO at 248 nm was found to be (7.0+/-1.5)x10(-2).

Determination of the adsorption isotherm of methanol on the surface of ice. An experimental and grand canonical Monte Carlo simulation study.

The adsorption isotherm of methanol on ice at 200 K has been determined both experimentally and by using the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo computer simulation method. The experimental and simulated isotherms agree well with each other; their deviations can be explained by a small (about 5 K) temperature shift in the simulation data and, possibly, by the non-ideality of the ice surface in the experimental situation. The analysis of the results has revealed that the saturated adsorption layer is monomolecular. At low surface coverage, the adsorption is driven by the methanol-ice interaction; however, at full coverage, methanol-methanol interactions become equally important. Under these conditions, about half of the adsorbed methanol molecules have one hydrogen-bonded water neighbor, and the other half have two hydrogen-bonded water neighbors. The vast majority of the methanols have a hydrogen-bonded methanol neighbor, as well.

Theoretical investigation of product channels in the CH3O2 + Br reaction.

Several reaction pathways on the potential energy surface (PES) for the reaction of CH3O2 radicals with Br atoms are examined using both ab initio and density functional methods. Analysis of the PES suggests the presence of the stable intermediates CH3OOBr and CH3OBrO. CH3OOBr is calculated to be more stable than CH3OBrO by 9.7 kcal mol(-1) with a significant barrier preventing formation of CH3OBrO via isomerization of CH3OOBr. The relative importance of bi- and termolecular product channels resulting from the initially formed CH3OOBr adduct are assessed based on calculated barriers to the formation of CH2OO + HBr, CH3O + BrO, CH3Br + O2, and CH2O + HOBr.

Reaction of HO with hydroxyacetone (HOCH2C(O)CH3): rate coefficients (233-363 K) and mechanism.

Absolute rate coefficients for the title reaction, HO + HOCH(2)C(O)CH(3)--> products (R1) were measured over the temperature range 233-363 K using the technique of pulsed laser photolytic generation of the HO radical coupled to detection by pulsed laser induced fluorescence. The rate coefficient displays a slight negative temperature dependence, which is described by: k(1)(233-363 K) = (2.15 +/- 0.30) x 10(-12) exp{(305 +/- 10)/T} cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), with a value of (5.95 +/- 0.50) x 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) at room temperature. The effects of the hydroxy-substituent and hydrogen bonding on the rate coefficient are discussed based on theoretical calculations. The present results, which extend the database on the title reaction to a range of temperatures, indicate that R1 is the dominant loss process for hydroxyacetone throughout the troposphere, resulting in formation of methylglyoxal at all atmospheric temperatures. As part of this work, the rate coefficient for reaction of O((3)P) with HOCH(2)C(O)CH(3) (R4) was measured at 358 K: k(4)(358 K) = (6.4 +/- 1.0) x 10(-14) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) and the absorption cross section of HOCH(2)C(O)CH(3) at 184.9 nm was determined to be (5.4 +/- 0.1) x 10(-18) cm(2) molecule(-1).

The reaction of IO with CH3SCH3: products and temperature dependent rate coefficients by laser induced fluorescence.

The technique of pulsed laser photolysis was coupled to laser induced fluorescence detection of iodine oxide (IO) to measure rate coefficients, k(1)(T), for the title reaction IO + CH3SCH3 --> products (R1). A value of k1(298 K) = (1.44 +/- 0.15) x 10(-14) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) was obtained, independent of bath gas pressure (50 < P((N2 or air))/Torr < 300). The expression k1(T) = (3.2 +/- 1.4)x 10(-13)exp[(-925 +/- 136)/T)] adequately described the data over the range of temperatures (256 < T/K < 341) covered. Uncertainties (2sigma) in the 298 K rate coefficient and the pre-exponential factor include an estimate of systematic error. The conventional Arrhenius behaviour of k1(T) and the lack of pressure dependence are suggestive of an abstraction mechanism, characterised by an energy barrier of E approximately 8 kJ mol(-1). The product yield for production of I-atoms was determined indirectly to be close to unity, indicating that the reaction proceeds via transfer of the O-atom from IO to CH3SCH3 to form CH3S(O)CH3. In general, the values of k1(T) measured in this work indicate that has little impact on the chemistry of the atmosphere.

Laser induced fluorescence studies of iodine oxide chemistry. Part II. The reactions of IO with CH3O2, CF3O2 and O3.

The technique of pulsed laser photolysis was coupled to laser induced fluorescence detection of iodine oxide (IO) to measure rate coefficients, k for the reactions IO + CH(3)O(2)--> products (R1, 30-318 Torr N(2)), IO + CF(3)O(2)--> products (R2, 70-80 Torr N(2)), and IO + O(3)--> OIO + O(2) (R3a). Values of k(1) = (2 +/- 1) x 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), k(2) = (3.6 +/- 0.8) x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), and k(3a) <5 x 10(-16) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) were obtained at T = 298 K. In the course of this work, the product yield of IO from the reaction of CH(3)O(2) with I was determined to be close to zero, whereas CH(3)OOI was formed efficiently at 70 Torr N(2). Similarly, no evidence was found for IO formation in the CF(3)O(2) + I reaction. An estimate of the rate coefficients k(CH(3)O(2) + I) = 2 x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) and k(CH(3)OOI + I) = 1.5 x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) was also obtained. The results on k(1)-k(3) are compared to the limited number of previous investigations and the implications for the chemistry of the marine boundary layer are briefly discussed.

A laser photolysis-resonance fluorescence study of the reactions: I + O3 --> IO + O2, O + I2 --> IO + I, and I + NO2 + M --> INO2 + M at 298 K.

Laser flash photolysis coupled to resonance-fluorescence detection of I atoms was used to measure the rate coefficients for the reactions: I + O3 --> IO + O2 (R1), O + I2 --> IO + I (R6) and I + NO2 + M --> INO2 + M (R7). All experiments were conducted under pseudo first-order conditions, and the accuracy of the results was enhanced by online determination of reagent concentrations by optical absorption. Bimolecular rate coefficients for reactions (R1) and (R6) were determined to be k1 = (1.28 +/- 0.06) x 10(-12) and k6 = (1.2 +/- 0.1) x 10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) at 298 +/- 2 K, independent of pressure. Rate coefficients for the termolecular reaction (R7), also at 298 +/- 2 K, were found to be in the falloff region between 3rd and 2nd order behaviour and, when combined with other datasets obtained at higher and lower pressures, were adequately described by a simplified Troe function with the parameters: k7,0 (He, 330 K) = 1.48 x 10(-31) cm6 molecule(-2) s(-1), F(C) (He) = 0.43, and k7, infinity = 1.1 x 10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) for He as bath gas. In N2 (or air) the following parameters were obtained k7,0 (N2, 300 K) = 3.2 x 10(-31) cm6 molecule(-2) s(-1), F(C) ( N2) = 0.48, with k7, infinity set to 1.1 x 10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) as obtained from analysis of the falloff curve obtained in He.