Repository logo
 

Interactions of peroxy radicals from monoterpene and isoprene oxidation simulated in the radical volatility basis set.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Change log

Abstract

Isoprene affects new particle formation rates in environments and experiments also containing monoterpenes. For the most part, isoprene reduces particle formation rates, but the reason is debated. It is proposed that due to its fast reaction with OH, isoprene may compete with larger monoterpenes for oxidants. However, by forming a large amount of peroxy-radicals (RO2), isoprene may also interfere with the formation of the nucleating species compared to a purely monoterpene system. We explore the RO2 cross reactions between monoterpene and isoprene oxidation products using the radical Volatility Basis Set (radical-VBS), a simplified reaction mechanism, comparing with observations from the CLOUD experiment at CERN. We find that isoprene interferes with covalently bound C20 dimers formed in the pure monoterpene system and consequently reduces the yields of the lowest volatility (Ultra Low Volatility Organic Carbon, ULVOC) VBS products. This in turn reduces nucleation rates, while having less of an effect on subsequent growth rates.

Description

Keywords

37 Earth Sciences, 3701 Atmospheric Sciences

Journal Title

Environ Sci Atmos

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2634-3606
2634-3606

Volume Title

Publisher

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Sponsorship
Vienna Science and Technology Fund (VRG22-003)
Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (200021_213071, PZ00P2_216181)
Division of Chemistry (CHE2336463)
European Research Council (NANODYNAMITE (ERC 616075))