Biogenic and anthropogenic pyruvic acid is found in the atmosphere in gas and aqueous phases and is used as a model for other relevant a-ketoacids. It is a product of isoprene atmospheric oxidation and has been investigated by a variety of methods. The atmospheric lifetime of pyruvic acid is determined by solar photochemistry. In this presentation the fundamental reaction mechanisms for gas-phase photochemistry and photodissociation dynamics with excitation in the ultraviolet and the visible red of pyruvic acid is discussed.  The photochemical mechanisms, rate constants and products depend on the conditions of the experiment. Atmospherically important parameters such as total pressure, wavelengths of radiation, oxygen and water vapor have a significant role in determining the first order rate constant and the product identity. The gas-phase photochemistry of pyruvic acid under realistic atmospheric conditions will be discussed in the context of its multiphase atmospheric reactions.

Photochemistry of gas-phase pyruvic acid under atmospheric conditions

248th National Meeting (2014)

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