Author(s)

I Barnes, K.H. Becker, B. Klotz, S. Sorensen, Th. Etzkorn,U. Platt and K. Wirtz

Abstract

Recent Developments in the Photo-Oxidation Mechanisms of Aromatic Hydrocarbons A contribution to subproject CMD I Barnes*, K-H Becker*, B Klotz\ S. S0rensen\ Th. Etzkorn^, U Platt* and K. Wirtz* ' Bergische Universitdt, Physikalische Chemie /FB 9, D-42097 Wuppertal, Germany ^ Universitat Heidelberg, Institutfur Umweltphysik, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany * CEAM, Parque Tecnologico, Calle 4, Sector Oeste, E-46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain Introduction On the basis of model calculations aromatic hydrocarbons, mainly BTX (benzene, toluene and the xylene isomers), are predicted to contribute up to as much as 40 % to the formation of 63 and other photo-oxidants in urban areas (Derwent et at., 1996). However, the reliability of these predictions is very much dependent on the accuracy of the degradation mechanisms utilised in the models which presently contain many speculative elements. Extensive efforts are curr

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