Smog Chamber Studies of Particle Formation from the Oxidation of Terpenes

Important aspects of the current research on atmospheric aerosols have recently been highlighted by Andreae and Crutzen (1997). The authors state that secondary organic aerosols, formed by the oxidation of VOCs emitted from biogenic sources, probably account for a significant fraction of the particulate matter in rural and remote continental air masses. Monoterpenes (C10H16), which constitute one of the main fractions of the biogenic VOCs, have since long been recognized as potential precursors of secondary organic aerosol in the atmosphere (Went, 1960). Aerosol yields from 5 100 % have been measured in laboratory and environmental chamber studies, e.g. Hatakeyama et al. (1989); Hoffmann et al. (1997); Kamens et al. (1999); Pandis et al. (1991); Schuetzle and Rasmussen (1978); Zhang et al., (1992), depending on the experimental conditions and on the species investigated. The present study aims at providing more information on aerosol yields from terpene oxidation and on the main chemical components in the particles.