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Updated: Sep 6, 2025

Production and Measurement of Organic Particulate Matter in a Flow Tube Reactor
Published on: December 15, 2018
Formation of extremely low-volatility organic compounds from styrene ozonolysis: Implication for nucleation
Shanshan Yu1, Long Jia1, Yongfu Xu1
1State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China; Department of Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
Abstract:
Styrene is a highly reactive compound with the dual nature of aromatics and olefins. This work presents evidence for formation of extremely low-volatility organic compounds (ELVOCs) from styrene ozonolysis. The molecules of ELVOCs were analyzed using a high-resolution orbitrap mass spectrometer. The results show that ELVOCs were oligomers characterized by stabilized Criegee radicals (SCIs) as chain units. The addition of C6H5CHOO (SCI1) or CH2OO (SCI2) can dramatically decrease the oligomers' volatility. At low relative humidity (RH), ELVOCs are mainly formed from the reaction of RO2 radical, C6H5OO·, with SCI1 and SCI2; however, ELVOCs are primarily produced by the reaction between benzoic acid and SCI1 at high RH. Ambient particles were also collected to propose the probable oligomers from styrene-SCI. Our results suggest that styrene-SCI derived ELVOCs may act as nucleating agents, potentially providing an experimental basis for nucleation events that frequently occur in urban areas.
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