Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) in the unpolluted atmosphere: an important reservoir for nitrogen oxides

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL008i008p00941· OSTI ID:6031442

Singh, H B; Hanst, P L

Based on the measured atmospheric distributions of ethane and propane (at midlatitudes in the northern hemisphere) and a simplified mechanism for their oxidation, it is predicted that acetaldehyde, acetone, and PAN (CH/sub 3/C(O)OONO/sub 2/) are ubiquitous components of the troposphere and the lower stratosphere. Average acetaldehyde concentrations (from ethane oxidation) of 22 parts per trillion (ppt), 3 ppt, and 7 ppt; average acetone concentrations (from propane oxidation) of 111 ppt, 15 ppt, and 3 ppt and average PAN concentrations of 17 to 34 ppt, 90 to 360 ppt, and 40 to 85 ppt are estimated for lower troposphere (approx.2 km), upper trposphere (approx.9 km), and the lower stratosphere (approx. 15 km), respectively. These calculations suggest that in the troposphere, nitrogen oxides (NQ/sub x/) contained in their organic form may be as much or more abundant as their inorganic form. This organic form of reactive nitrogen is in chemical equilibrium (CH/sub 3/C(O)OONO/sub 2/ arrow-right-left CH/sub 3/C(O)OO+NO/sub 2/) with inorganic NO/sub 2/ and acts as reservoir of inorganic NO/sub x/. Measurement methods for PAN are currenlty available to verify these predicted results.

• Research Organization: Atmospheric Science Center, SRI International, Menlo Park, California 94025
• OSTI ID: 6031442
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 8:8; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKANES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ETHANE
HYDROCARBONS
NITRATES
NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROPANE
TROPOSPHERE