The atmospheric multiphase oxidation of acetone

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Hartmut Herrmann
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: from 2006 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 25966227

The atmospheric conversion of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) results in the formation and accumulation of mono- and di-carboxylic acids in the tropospheric aqueous phase. Important systems such as the aqueous phase oxidation of acetone by OH radical still show considerable uncertainties, current tropospheric multiphase models cannot fully reproduce laboratory results.The project proposed here intends to evaluate the possible contribution of the oxidation of oxygenated organic compounds, i.e. acetone and its stable oxidation products to the concentration of organic acids in the particle phase through the improvement of the current models with more detailed oxidation pathways.Further, an accurate oxidation mechanism description is required for an assessment of the impact of long-lived primary and secondary oxygenated compounds such as acetone on the chemistry of the upper troposphere, since these compounds will provide a major source of HOX radicals and peroxyacyl nitrates in this region with consequences on the oxidising capacity of the upper troposphere.The proposed project intends to study the following systems: (a) acetone, (b) hydroxyacetone and (c) methylglyoxal, (b) and (c) are being formed following acetone oxidation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants