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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Sherri A. Mason; R. J. Field; Robert J. Yokelson; M. A. Kochivar; M. R. Tinsley; Darold E. Ward; Wei Min Hao
Publication Date: 2001

Oxygenated volatile organic species (oxygenates), including HCOOH, H2CO, CH3OH, HOCH2CHO (hydroxyacetaldehyde), CH3COOH, and C6H5OH, have recently been identified by Fourier transform infrared measurements as a significant component of the direct emissions from biomass combustion. These oxygenates have not generally been included in the hydrocarbon-based initial emission profiles used in previous photochemical simulations of biomass combustion smoke plumes. We explore the effects of oxygenates on this photochemistry by using an established initial emission hydrocarbon profile and comparing simulation results obtained both with and without addition of the above six oxygenates. Simulations are started at noon and carried out for 30 hours in an expanding Lagrangian plume. After an initial transient period during which [NOx] falls rapidly, conditions within the oxygenated smoke plume are found to be strongly NOx-sensitive, and the simulated final species profile is thus strongly dependent upon the change[NO]/change[CO] initial emission profile. Oxygenate addition results in very significant and complex effects on net O3 production, as well as on the relative amounts of long-lived HO, and NO, reservoir species (H2O2, organic hydroperoxides, HNO3, and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN)) that are mixed into the surrounding atmosphere. Oxygenates may either increase or decrease net O3 production (depending upon the initial change[NO]/change[CO]). However, they always increase H2O2 and organic hydroperoxide production as a result of increased rates of radical + radical reactions. These effects spring largely from accelerated removal of NO, from the smoke plume due to increased radical concentrations resulting both from photolysis of oxygenates (mainly CH2O) and from their relatively high reactivity. Predicted concentrations of H2O2, change[O3]/change[CO], change[NH3]/change[CO], and change[HCOOH]/change[CO] are compared with some available measured values.

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Citation: Mason, S.A.; Field, R.J.; Yokelson, Robert J.; Kochivar, M.A.; Tinsley, M.R.; Ward, Darold E.; Hao, Wei Min. 2001. Complex effects arising in smoke plume simulations due to inclusion of direct emissions of oxygenated organic species from biomass combustion. Journal of Geophysical Research 106(D12):12527-12539.

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Regions:
Alaska    California    Eastern    Great Basin    Hawaii    Northern Rockies    Northwest    Rocky Mountain    Southern    Southwest    National
Keywords:
  • biomass combustion
  • smoke plume simulations
  • VOC - volatile organic compounds
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 4634