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Investigation of chemical reactivity and active components of ambient VOCs in Jinan, China

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Abstract

An analysis of 55 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere was conducted to identify the active components and to determine the potential reactivity using 2 years of air pollution monitoring data in a city in east of China. The results show that the atmospheric hydroxyl radical consumption rate (L OH) and ozone forming potential (OFP) of the VOCs corresponded directly to the concentration profiles. The values of L OH and OFP were found to be higher in summer than other seasons. The hydroxyl radical loss rate constant (k OH) of the VOCs by regression analysis was much higher than that of ethylene, while the maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) of VOCs was similar to that of ethylene. Alkenes were found to be the key active components identified in atmospheric pollution, and vehicle exhaust was considered to be the major source of the VOCs in Jinan’s atmosphere.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China Funding Agency (Grant No. 21407097), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2015M572042) and the Doctoral Research Foundation at Shandong Jianzhu University (Grant No. 000601485).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China

    Ning Wang

  2. The School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan, China

    Ning Wang & Zechang Liu

  3. Jian Jia Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Jinan, China

    Na Li

  4. HDR Engineering, 300 East Locust Street, Suite 210, Des Moines, IA, USA

    Eric Evans

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  1. Ning Wang
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  2. Na Li
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  3. Zechang Liu
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  4. Eric Evans
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Correspondence to Ning Wang.

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Wang, N., Li, N., Liu, Z. et al. Investigation of chemical reactivity and active components of ambient VOCs in Jinan, China. Air Qual Atmos Health 9, 785–793 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-015-0380-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-015-0380-1

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