The interaction of bromine with micron and submicron aerosols

This study was undertaken to gain a better understanding of the reactions of aerosols with gases and vapors. The experimental system was designed in which both phases were dispersed. A collision-type nebulizer was used to generate monodisperse aerosols of 0.234, 0.500, 0.804, 1.101 and 2.020 microns diameter. Bromine concentrations of 100 and 200 ppm were produced to interact with the aerosolS. A light-scattering optical particle counter was used to determine the particle number concentration. Reacted aerosol collected on Teflon filters was analyzed by energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence. Two temperature regimes were selected: approximately 26 degrees C and 60 degrees C. Separate runs were also conducted for the extreme case of zero curvature using 25 microns thick polystyrene sheet. Data generated from this study show a strong dependence of bromine levels on particle size. As the particle size increased, the amount of bromine per particle (ng Br/particle) also increased. However, on a weight-to-weight basis (ng Br/ng aerosol), the amount of bromine was found to increase with decreasing particle size. The concentration dependence on particle diameter was more strongly associated with values between d2 and d3. This dependence, together with other experimental data, supports a shrinking-unreacted core physical model for the actual reaction. When Br2 concentration or reaction temperature was increased, higher levels of bromine resulted in the aerosol. Runs where both temperature and concentration were increased showed lower levels of bromine than with an increase in either variable. One possible explanation is that the relative rates of reaction on the surface of the particle and diffusion through the reacted shell may be the influencing factors. Brominated polystyrene sheet material showed substantially lower bromine levels than the aerosols.