Secondary organic aerosol formation from aromatic precursors. 2. Mechanisms for lumped aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract

Quantitative kinetic and physical phase partitioning models of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation resulting from the reactions of lumped aromatic species were integrated into a state of the art mechanism for gas-phase reactions (SAPRC). Aromatic and aerosol precursor species were aggregated based on their rate of reaction with OH radicals. Model parameters for the lumped model species were estimated based on the properties of individual compounds making up the lumped parameters. The model was applied to estimate the contribution of aromatic precursors to the formation of SOA in Houston, TX.