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Fundamental Experimental and Modeling Studies of Secondary Organic Aerosol

EPA Grant Number: R831075
Title: Fundamental Experimental and Modeling Studies of Secondary Organic Aerosol
Investigators: Seinfeld, John , Clegg, Simon , Flagan, Richard
Current Investigators: Seinfeld, John
Institution: California Institute of Technology , University of East Anglia
Current Institution: California Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Hunt, Sherri
Project Period: July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2006
Project Amount: $449,991
RFA: Measurement, Modeling, and Analysis Methods for Airborne Carbonaceous Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) (2003)
Research Category: Particulate Matter

Description:

Objective:

Understanding the sources, molecular composition, and chemistry of formation of atmospheric secondary organic aerosol represents a key problem in atmospheric chemistry. Secondary organic aerosol arises when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are oxidized in the atmosphere to form products that have sufficiently low volatility to partition between the gas and particulate phases. These products tend to be highly oxidized, polar organic molecules containing six or more carbon atoms. The partitioning is determined by the dissolution of the low-vapor pressure organics into a particulate phase that consists in general of a mixture of already condensed organic compounds, primary carbonaceous material, water, and dissolved inorganic electrolytes. Laboratory measurements of the overall mass yields of aerosol from oxidation of individual VOCs provide the fundamental data to test first-principles prediction of aerosol formation. The objective of this study is to improve the ability of source-oriented atmospheric models to simulate the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA).

Approach:

The proposed approach includes three major aspects: (1) a comprehensive program of laboratory chamber experiments on SOA formation; (2) continued development of theoretical models of SOA formation that can be included in atmospheric models; and (3) evaluation of the models against the laboratory chamber data.

Expected Results:

One expected result of the research will be an organic aerosol module suitable for incorporation in airshed models.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 16 publications for this project

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 16 journal articles for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

troposphere, health effects, environmental chemistry, analytical , Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, Air, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Air Pollution Effects, air toxics, Chemicals, Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Engineering, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, aerosol analyzers, health effects, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), carbon particles, particulate matter mass, secondary organic aerosols, particle phase molecular markers, measurement methods, aerosol particles, air sampling, atmospheric dispersion models, emissions, air quality models, human health effects, monitoring stations, monitoring of organic particulate matter, modeling studies, atmospheric particulate matter, atmospheric measurements, analysis of organic particulate matter, modeling, secondary organic aerosol, transport modeling

Progress and Final Reports:
2004 Progress Report
2005 Progress Report
Final Report

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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