Abstract

Methyl butenols are emitted by the vegetation to the atmosphere. The reaction with nitrate radicals produces semivolatile substances that may contribute to the atmospheric particular matter. In this preliminary laboratory study, measurements of particle concentration and size distribution were conducted with three methyl butenols, 3-methyl-2-butene-1-ol (MBO321), 3-methyl-3-butene-1-ol (MBO331), and 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol (MBO232). There was little evidence for production of aerosol from the primary products: however, formation of secondary products caused particle nucleation. The result indicated that NO3 oxidation of primary products from MBO321 and 331 gave substances with a vapor pressure range from 4 x 10(-9) to 4 x 10(7) Pa, while the range for MBO232 was a factor of 10 higher. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.