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Our Present Understanding of the Gas-Phase Atmospheric Degradation of Vocs

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Simulation and Assessment of Chemical Processes in a Multiphase Environment

Large quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted into the atmosphere from biogenic and anthropogenic sources. In the atmosphere, these VOCs undergo a number of chemical transformation processes involving photolysis, reaction with OH radicals, reaction with NO3 radicals, reaction with O3, and reaction with Cl atoms. In this article, a brief discussion is given of the current understanding of the atmospheric degradation mechanisms of VOCs, focusing on alkanes, alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons which comprise the majority of VOCs emitted from anthropogenic and biogenic sources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Air Pollution Research Center, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA

    R. Atkinson

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  1. R. Atkinson
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. FBC - Physical Chemistry Department, Bergische University Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany

    I. Barnes

  2. Dnepropetrovsk State Agrarian University, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine

    M. M. Kharytonov

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Atkinson, R. (2008). Our Present Understanding of the Gas-Phase Atmospheric Degradation of Vocs. In: Barnes, I., Kharytonov, M.M. (eds) Simulation and Assessment of Chemical Processes in a Multiphase Environment. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8846-9_1

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