Air-Water Interfacial Chemistry of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Relevance to Atmospheric Deposition Processes

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge LA

Investigators

Abstract

This project involves the study of the behavior of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) occurring at the gas/liquid interface of fog droplets. Laboratory measurements will be made to evaluate how the thermodynamic properties of PAH affect their partitioning between atmospheric fog droplets and air, information needed to model the fate and transport of PAH in the atmosphere. The dependence of PAH partitioning on temperature, multi-species concentrations, and fog droplet diameter will be assessed. Measurements will also be made in the field to derive fog-water/air partition coefficients in ambient air and to verify the laboratory results.