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Unexpectedly high indoor hydroxyl radical concentrations associated with nitrous acid.

ABSTRACT: The hydroxyl (OH) radical is the most important oxidant in the atmosphere since it controls its self-oxidizing capacity. The main sources of OH radicals are the photolysis of ozone and the photolysis of nitrous acid (HONO). Due to the attenuation of solar radiation in the indoor environment, the possibility of OH formation through photolytic pathways indoors has been ignored up to now. In the indoor air, the ozonolysis of alkenes has been suggested as an alternative route of OH formation. Models and indirect measurements performed up to now according to this hypothesis suggest concentrations of OH radicals on the order of 10(4)-10(5) molecules per cubic centimeter. Here, we present direct measurements of significant amounts of OH radicals of up to 1.8⋅10(6) molecules per cubic centimeter during an experimental campaign carried out in a school classroom in Marseille. This concentration is on the same order of magnitude of outdoor OH levels in the urban scenario. We also show that photolysis of HONO is an important source of OH radicals indoors under certain conditions (i.e., direct solar irradiation inside the room). Additionally, the OH concentrations were found to follow a linear dependence with the product J(HONO)⋅[HONO]. This was also supported by using a simple quasiphotostationary state model on the OH radical budget. These findings force a change in our understanding of indoor air quality because the reactivity linked to OH would involve formation of secondary species through chemical reactions that are potentially more hazardous than the primary pollutants in the indoor air.

SUBMITTER: Gomez Alvarez E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3746940 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Understanding the mechanism of hydrazine oxidation reaction by OH radical along with the rate constants of all possible pathways leads to explain the fate of hydrazine in the atmosphere. In this article, the comprehensive mechanisms and kinetics of the hydrazine plus hydroxyl radical reaction have been investigated theoretically at different temperatures and pressures. To achieve the main goals, a series of high levels of quantum chemical calculations have been widely implemented in reliable channels of the H-abstraction, SN2, and addition/elimination reactions. The energy profile of all pathways accompanied by the molecular properties of the involved stationary points has been characterized at the MP2, M06-2X, and CCSD(T)/CBS levels. To estimate accurate barrier energies of the H-abstraction channels, large numbers of the CCSD (T) calculations in conjunction with various augmented basis sets have been implemented. The direct dynamic calculations have been carried out using the validated M06-2X/maug-cc-pVTZ level, and also by the CCSD(T) (energies) + MP2 (partition functions) level. The pressure-dependent rate constants of the barrierless pathways have been investigated by the strong collision approach. Therefore, the main behaviors of the N2H4 + OH reaction have been explored according to the influences of temperature and pressure on the computed rate coefficients within the well-behaved theoretical frameworks of the TST, VTST, and RRKM theories. It has been found that the H-abstraction mechanism (to form N2H3) is dominant relative to the SN2 reaction and OH-addition to the N center of N2H4 moiety (to form H2NOH + NH2). The computed high pressure limit rate constant of the main reaction pathway, k(298.15) = 7.31 × 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, has an excellent agreement with the experimental value (k (298.15) = (6.50 ± 1.3) × 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1) recommended by Vaghjiani. Also, the atmospheric lifetime of hydrazine degradation by OH radicals has been demonstrated to be 32.80 to 1161.11 h at the altitudes of 0-50 km. Finally, the disagreement in the calculated rate constants between the previous theoretical study and experimental results has been rectified.

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Unexpectedly high indoor hydroxyl radical concentrations associated with nitrous acid.

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