Effects of Inorganic Aerosols on the Gas-Phase Reactions of the Hydroxyl Radical with Selected Aliphatic Alkanes

Effects of inorganic aerosols on the kinetics of the hydroxyl radical reactions with selected aliphatic alkanes have been investigated using the relative rate technique. The relative rates in the absence and presence of aerosols were determined for n-butane, n-pentane, n-hexane, n-octane, and n-decane. P-xylene was used as a reference compound. Inorganic aerosols including (NH$_4$)$_2$SO$_4$, NH$_4$NO$_3$, and NaCl aerosols at two different aerosol concentrations that are typical of polluted urban conditions were tested. Total surface areas of aerosols were 1400 (Condition I) and 3400 $\mu$$m^2$ cm$^{-3}$ (Condition II). Significant changes in the relative rates in the presence of the inorganic aerosols were not observed for the n-butanel/$.$OH, n-pentanel/$.$OH, n-hexanel/$.$OH, n-octanel/$.$OH, and n-decanel/$.$OH reactions versus p-xylenel/$.$OH reaction. These results suggest that the promoting effects depend on the semiconducting property of the aerosols and the nature of the organic compounds.