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Oxidation of polystyrene aerosols by VUV-photolysis and/or ozone

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Abstract

Aerosols of submicron polystyrene particles were oxidized by either vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation in the presence of molecular oxygen (O2) and/or by ozone (O3). Different degrees of oxidation and oxidative degradation were reached by VUV-photolysis depending on radiant energy, O2 and H2O concentrations in the bulk gas mixture as well as on particle diameter. The same functionalization was obtained by exposing the aerosol to O3, however, oxidation, in particular oxidative degradation, was less efficient. The evolution of hydroxyl and carbonyl functions introduced was quantified by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy of filtered particles, and oxidative degradation of the polymer particles was confirmed by determining size and number of aerosol particles before and after oxidation. Efficiency analyses are based on the results of an O3 actinometry and on an evaluation of the rate of absorbed photons by the aerosol particles in function of their size.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. José Salas Vicente

    Present address: UV-Consulting Peschl España S.L., 46980, Paterna (Valencia), Spain

  2. Juan López Gejo

    Present address: Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

  3. Sumalekshmy Sarojiniamma

    Present address: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA

  4. Eliso Gogritchiani

    Present address: Reuter Chemische Apparatebau KG, 79108, Freiburg, Germany

  5. Michael Wörner

    Present address: Institut für Bio- und Lebensmitteltechnik, IV.Molekulare Aufarbeitung von Bioprodukten, Universität Karlsruhe, 76128, Karlsruhe, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Umweltmesstechnik, Engler-Bunte-Institut, Universität Karlsruhe, Germany

    José Salas Vicente, Juan López Gejo, Sumalekshmy Sarojiniamma, Eliso Gogritchiani, Michael Wörner & André M. Braun

  2. Bereich Gas-Partikel-Systeme, Institut für Mechanische Verfahrenstechnik und Mechanik, Universität Karlsruhe, 76128, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Sonja Rothenbacher & Gerhard Kasperb

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  1. José Salas Vicente
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Correspondence to André M. Braun.

Additional information

This article was published as part of the themed issue in honour of Esther Oliveros.

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Vicente, J.S., Gejo, J.L., Rothenbacher, S. et al. Oxidation of polystyrene aerosols by VUV-photolysis and/or ozone. Photochem Photobiol Sci 8, 944–952 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1039/b902749a

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