Formation of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone by atmospheric gas-phase reactions of phenanthrene

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) Vol. 41; no. 10; pp. 2025 - 2035
• Main Authors: Wang, Lin, Atkinson, Roger, Arey, Janet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: 9,10-phenanthrenequinone; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Gas-phase atmospheric reactions; Hydroxyl radical; Nitrate radical; Phenanthrene; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Phenanthrene; 9,10-phenanthrenequinone; Nitrate radical; Gas-phase atmospheric reactions; Hydroxyl radical; Hydrocarbon; Quinone; Pollutant formation; Ozone; Nitrates; Photochemical reaction; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Quantum yield; Free radical reaction; Persistent organic pollutant; Aerosols; Hydroxyl radicals; Air pollution; Poison; Oxidation; Photooxidation; Gaseous phase reaction; Organic compounds; Inorganic radical anion
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2006.11.008

Phenanthrene is a 3-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon which exists mainly in the gas-phase in the atmosphere. Recent concern over the presence of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone in ambient particles led us to study the products of the gas-phase reactions of phenanthrene with hydroxyl radicals, nitrate radicals and ozone. The formation yields of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone were measured to be ∼3%, 33±9%, and ∼2% from the OH radical, NO 3 radical and O 3 reactions, respectively. Calculations suggest that daytime OH radical-initiated and nighttime NO 3 radical-initiated reactions of gas-phase phenanthrene may be significant sources of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone in ambient atmospheres. In contrast, the ozone reaction with phenanthrene is unlikely to contribute significantly to ambient 9,10-phenanthrenequinone.