Combined effects of organic reactivity and NMHC/NOx ratio on photochemical-oxidant formation - a modeling study

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6354598

Dodge, M C

A modeling study was undertaken to assess the effect of organic reactivity on photochemical-oxidant formation. A six-component hydrocarbon model was developed and tested against data collected in a smog chamber study of irradiated auto exhaust and oxides of nitrogen NOx mixtures. The model was then adjusted to conditions that closely approximated those of the urban environment and used to assess the relative reactivity of various organic constituents present in an urban-like air mass. Twelve organics were investigated in the study: ethane, propane, n-butane, ethylene, propylene, trans-2-butene, toluene, m-xylene, methanol, ethanol, formalehyde, and acetaldehyde. The findings of this study indicate that the reactivity of organics depends strongly on the hydrocarbon-to-NOx ratio of the mix in which they are reacting. At low hydrocarbon-to-NOx ratios, the organics investigated in this study displayed significantly different O/sub 3/-forming potentials. At high hydrocarbon-to-NOx ratios, however, all organics exhibited comparable O to 3-forming potential.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Environmental Sciences Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 6354598
• Report Number(s): PB-87-180659/XAB; EPA-600/J-84/403
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Pub. in Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 18, No. 8, 1657-1665(1984)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
EXHAUST GASES
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SMOG
PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDANTS
REACTIVITY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL
WASTES
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
400500 - Photochemistry