Product studies of gas-phase reactions of organic compounds

Abstract

Large quantities of volatile non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs) are emitted into the atmosphere from anthropogenic and biogenic sources. In the troposphere, these NMOCs can undergo photolysis, reaction with the hydroxyl (OH) radical, reaction with the nitrate (NO3) radical, and reaction with ozone (O3). While the kinetics of the initial OH radical, NO3 radical and O3 reactions are reasonably well known or can often be estimated with some degree of reliability, the subsequent reaction mechanisms and the products formed under tropospheric conditions are generally much less well understood. The various methods of generation of OH radicals, NO3 radicals and O3 for laboratory product studies, together with methods of analysis and potential complications due to other reactions, are discussed.