Formation and control of atmospheric aerosol nitrate and nitric acid

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6029056

Russell, A G

This work focuses on the formation, transport and control of atmospheric nitric acid and nitrate aerosol using both theoretical modeling and experimental techniques. A mathematical model was developed that describes the formation and transport of photochemically produced atmospheric gases and nitrate aerosol, using fundamental thermodynamic data to determine the quantity and state of the aerosol nitrate produced. Model predictions compared favorably with the field data available. A sensitivity study of the model indicated that the predicted aerosol nitrate concentrations are highly dependent on temperature. The trajectory model was used to study the fate of nitrogen oxides emissions and the chemical reactions responsible for the formation of atmospheric nitric acid. A majority of the NO/sub x/ emissions deposit out within 24 hours, primarily as NHO/sub 3/. Previously it was believed that almost all of the atmospheric nitric acid was produced during daylight hours, however model results indicate that nighttime reactions can produce comparable quantities, especially in the upper portions of the boundary layer. An experimental problem was designed and executed to collect a set of data for use in studying nitrate formation, and for use in evaluating the accuracy of air quality models. Data from the experiment were used to test the hypothesis that atmospheric HNO/sub 3/ and NH/sub 3/ are in equilibrium with the aerosol phase. Most of the data are consistent with the assumption that an external mixture containing some pure NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/ is present.

• Research Organization: California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6029056
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR QUALITY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NITRATES
NITRIC ACID
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
POLLUTION
SOLS