Organic nitrates are formed in polluted air from reactions of organic peroxy radicals with NO. They serve as sinks for NOx and thus affect ozone formation, and the addition of nitrate groups lowers reaction product vapor pressures and enhances the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). OH radical-initiated reactions of alkanes and alkenes are the major source of atmospheric organic nitrates. Yields increase with increasing carbon number and are affected by other functional groups, effects that are especially important for the types of compounds that form SOA. In this talk I will discuss recent environmental chamber studies we have conducted to investigate the effects of carbon number, C=C bond position, chain branching, and the presence of hydroxyl groups on organic nitrate yields. I will also discuss the experimental challenges of conducting such studies with semi-volatile compounds and demonstrate the importance of accounting for gas-wall partitioning of reaction products.

Formation of organic nitrates from reactions of alkanes and alkenes with OH radicals in the presence of NO<sub>x</sub>

244th National Meeting (2012)

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Formation of organic nitrates from reactions of alkanes and alkenes with OH radicals in the presence of NOx

Formation of organic nitrates from reactions of alkanes and alkenes with OH radicals in the presence of NO_x