Uptake and Reaction of ClONO2 on NaCl and Synthetic Sea Salt

Significant impact of heterogeneous reactions of reactive chlorine species on summertime atmospheric ozone and free-radical formation in north China

Heterogeneous reactions of N₂O₅, O₃, OH, ClONO₂, HOCl, ClNO₂, and NO₂, with chlorine-containing particles are incorporated in the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model to evaluate the impact of heterogeneous reactions of reactive chlorine species on ozone and free radicals. Changes of summertime ozone and free radical concentrations due to the additional heterogeneous reactions in north China were quantified. These heterogeneous reactions increased the O₃, OH, HO₂ and RO₂ concentrations by up to 20%, 28%, 36% and 48% for some regions in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) area. These areas typically have a larger amount of NOx emissions and a lower VOC/NOx ratio. The zero-out method evaluates that the photolysis of ClNO₂ and Cl₂ are the major contributors (42.4% and 57.6%, respectively) to atmospheric Cl in the early morning hours but the photolysis of Cl₂ is the only significant contributor after 10:00 am. The results highlight that heterogeneous reactions of reactive chlorine species are important to atmospheric ozone and free-radical formation. Our study also suggests that the on-going NOx emission controls in the NCP region with a goal to reduce both O₃ and secondary nitrate can also have the co-benefit of reducing the formation Cl from ClNO₂ and Cl₂, which may also lead to lower secondary organic aerosol formation and thus the control of summertime PM_2.5 in the region.

High Levels of Daytime Molecular Chlorine and Nitryl Chloride at a Rural Site on the North China Plain

Molecular chlorine (Cl₂) and nitryl chloride (ClNO₂) concentrations were measured using chemical ionization mass spectrometry at a rural site over the North China Plain during June 2014. High levels of daytime Cl₂ up to ∼450 pptv were observed. The average diurnal Cl₂ mixing ratios showed a maximum around noon at ∼100 pptv. ClNO₂ exhibited a strong diurnal variation with early morning maxima reaching ppbv levels and afternoon minima sustained above 60 pptv. A moderate correlation (R² = 0.31) between Cl₂ and sulfur dioxide was observed, perhaps indicating a role for power plant emissions in the generation of the observed chlorine. We also observed a strong correlation (R² = 0.83) between daytime (10:00-20:00) Cl₂ and ClNO₂, which implies that both of them were formed from a similar mechanism. In addition, Cl₂ production is likely associated with a photochemical mechanism as Cl₂ concentrations varied with ozone (O₃) levels. The impact of Cl₂ and ClNO₂ as Cl atom sources is investigated using a photochemical box model. We estimated that the produced Cl atoms oxidized slightly more alkanes than OH radicals and enhanced the daily concentrations of peroxy radicals by 15% and the O₃ production rate by 19%.

Knudsen cell studies of the uptake of gaseous ammonia and amines onto C3–C7 solid dicarboxylic acids

While atmospheric particles affect health, visibility and climate, the details governing their formation and growth are poorly understood on a molecular level.

Mechanism and Kinetics of Heterogeneous Reactions of Unsaturated Organic Acids on α-Al2 O3 and CaCO3

Heterogeneous reactions have a vital role in the atmosphere due to their significant effects on the evolution of atmospheric aerosols, which in turn contribute to air pollution. However, the mechanism and kinetics of these processes involving unsaturated organic acids, important types of volatile organic compounds, are still unclear. In this work, the heterogeneous uptake of two representative atmospheric unsaturated organic acids (acrylic acid and methacrylic acid) on mineral aerosols including α-Al₂ O₃ and CaCO₃ are investigated using a Knudsen cell reactor and an in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectrometry (DRIFTS) reactor. The corresponding reaction pathways are proposed from the DRIFTS analysis. In addition, the initial uptake coefficients of unsaturated organic acids and their heterogeneous fate are obtained for the first time. Our results suggest that heterogeneous reactions on α-Al₂ O₃ and CaCO₃ can be important sinks for acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, as well as possible contributors to the organic coating found on atmospheric aerosols, especially in high-pollution events.

Adsorption and heterogeneous reactions of ClONO2 and N2O5 on/with NaCl aerosol

The adsorption and heterogeneous reactions of ClONO₂ and N₂O₅ on the NaCl (100) surface have been investigated by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Nitryl chloride and molecular chlorine in the coastal marine boundary layer

The magnitude and sources of chlorine atoms in marine air remain highly uncertain but have potentially important consequences for air quality in polluted coastal regions. We made continuous measurements of ambient ClNO(2) and Cl(2) concentrations from May 15 to June 8 aboard the Research Vessel Atlantis during the CalNex 2010 field study. In the Los Angeles region, ClNO(2) was more ubiquitous than Cl(2) during most nights of the study period. ClNO(2) and Cl(2) ranged from detection limits at midday to campaign maximum values at night reaching 2100 and 200 pptv, respectively. The maxima were observed in Santa Monica Bay when sampling the Los Angeles urban plume. Cl(2) at times appeared well correlated with ClNO(2), but at other times, there was little to no correlation implying distinct and varying sources. Well-confined Cl(2) plumes were observed, largely independent of ClNO(2), providing support for localized industrial emissions of reactive chlorine. Observations of ClNO(2), Cl(2), and HCl are used to constrain a simple box model that predicts their relative importance as chlorine atom sources in the polluted marine boundary layer. In contrast to the emphasis in previous studies, ClNO(2) and HCl are dominant primary chlorine atom sources for the Los Angeles basin.

Measurement of Effective Knudsen Diffusion Coefficients for Powder Beds Used in Heterogeneous Uptake Experiments

The effective Knudsen diffusion coefficients for characteristic oxide powder beds used in heterogeneous uptake experiments have been measured using countercurrent diffusion and transient pressure drop techniques. Room-temperature thermal-velocity-normalized effective Knudsen diffusion coefficients are found to lie in the 0.15 to 0.35 microm range for magnesium silicate, aluminum oxide, and iron oxide powder beds. Measured values are compared with theoretical estimates and are consistent with low bed tortuosities (below 3) expected for media with open porosity above 0.5. The impact of uncertainties in effective diffusion coefficients on corrections of measured uptake coefficients is discussed. The value of careful uptake measurements in both the low and high sample mass limits is reinforced, as this allows uptake corrections independent of explicitly measured or estimated diffusion coefficient values. It is suggested that correction procedures requiring tortuosity values greater than 3 are suspect.

Kinetic mechanism of ClONO2 uptake on polycrystalline film of NaCl

Kinetic studies and the mechanism determination of ClONO2 uptake on polycrystalline NaCl were carried out using a coated-insert flow tube reactor combined with high-resolution, low-energy electron-impact mass spectrometer under the following conditions: p = 1-2 Torr, linear flow velocity v = 3.5-75 m s(-1), T = 293 and 387 K, [ClONO2] = (0.5-25) x 10(12) molecules cm(-3). The salt was deposited as a film from nonsaturated aqueous solution on the sliding rod. The temporal dependences of the uptake coefficient and the partial uptake coefficients leading to a formation of the prime Cl2 and HOCl products were measured for different ClONO2 concentrations. These dependences are established to be described by gamma = gamma0 exp(-t/tau) + gamma(s), gamma(0,s)(-1) = a(0,s) + b(0,s)[ClONO2]. In the framework of the proposed kinetic model, the data are explained and the main elementary kinetic parameters of the uptake are evaluated. The model is based on a combination of Langmuir adsorption, formation of surface complexes on initial active sites, Z(ch), followed by their unimolecular decomposition. Decomposition is proposed to proceed concurrently in two channels, one of which is a released surface site that conserves the properties of the initial site. In the other channel, the initial Z(ch) transforms into Z(ph) followed by steady-state uptake and reproduction of final Z(ph). The model gives an analytical expression for experimental parameters gamma0, gamma(s), and tau in terms of elementary rate constants and the reactant volume concentration. The final objective of the proposed model is the extrapolation of gamma0, gamma(s), and tau parameters to real tropospheric conditions.

Impact of chlorine emissions from sea-salt aerosol on coastal urban ozone

The ability of photochemical models to predict observed coastal chlorine levels and their corresponding effect on ozone formation is explored. Current sea-spray generation functions, a comprehensive gas-phase chlorine chemistry mechanism, and several heterogeneous/multiphase chemical reactions considered key processes leading to reactive chlorine formation are added to an airshed model of the South Coast Air Basin of California. Modeling results reproduce regional sea-salt particle concentrations. The heterogeneous/multiphase chemical reactions do not affect the rate of hydrochloric acid displacement, nor do they enhance aerosol nitrate formation. Chlorine levels in the model are predicted to be an order of magnitude lower than previously observed values at other coastal regions under similar conditions, albeit in much better agreement than previous studies. The results suggest that the inclusion of sea-salt-derived chlorine chemistry might increase morning ozone predictions by as much as 12 ppb in coastal regions and by 4 ppb in the peak domain ozone in the afternoon. The inclusion of anthropogenic sources of chlorine is recommended for future studies, as such sources might elevate ozone predictions even further via direct emission into polluted regions.