In the atmosphere, phenol and biphenyl are formed from the reaction of hydroxyl radicals with benzene, a prevalent atmospheric pollutant. Even though the reaction pathway of phenol formation from benzene and hydroxyl radicals has been studied extensively, the production of biphenyl, an irritant and toxin, has received less attention. The formation of biphenyl from the reaction of benzene with hydroxyl radicals in atmospheric droplets such as fog is influenced by temperature, ionic strength, and pH of the aqueous phase. However, in atmospheric droplets, reactions do not only take place in the bulk, but are predominantly governed by surface reactions at the air-water interface. Since the surface differs from the bulk phase in ionic strength and acidity, both significant factors for biphenyl formation, a thin film reactor is used to evaluate how biphenyl formation is effected by temperature, ionic strength, and pH at the air-water interface compared to the bulk phase.

Atmospheric oxidation of benzene: Biphenyl formation in the bulk aqueous phase vs. the air-water interface

245th National Meeting (2013)

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