Modeling the mass transfer of semi-volatile organics in combustion aerosols
- Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States). Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering
The atmospheric transport and fate of airborne organic compounds are highly dependent upon which phase or phases (i.e., gas or particle or gas/particle) the compound exists. Recently Rounds and Pankow developed a radial pore-diffusion model to simulate the mass transfer of semi-volatile organics in and out of combustion aerosols. Preliminary results from their model and other recent discoveries suggest that many types of combustion aerosols may be coated with a liquid organic layer and that diffusion of semi-volatile organics through this layer impedes rapid mass transfer of these compounds. Therefore a radial diffusion model was developed to describe the mass transfer of semi-volatile organics into and out of combustion aerosols. The model combustion aerosol consists of a solid carbon core that is surrounded by a viscous, liquid-like, organic layer. Diffusion takes place only within the organic layer and is controlled by mass transfer at the particle surface. Modeling of semi-volatiles requires the tuning of two separate parameters: a diffusion coefficient and a surface mass transfer coefficient. Preliminary testing of the model on the uptake of deuterated pyrene by diesel exhaust aerosol at 25 C suggests that diffusion coefficients for PAH are on the order of 10{sup {minus}15} cm{sup 2}/sec and that surface mass transfer coefficients for pyrene are on the order of 10{sup {minus}9} cm/sec.
- OSTI ID:
- 197494
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9405167--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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