PRODUCTS OF THE OH RADICAL-INITIATED GAS-PHASE REACTION OF FLUORENE IN THE PRESENCE OF NOX

The products of the OH radical-initiated gas-phase reaction of fluorene in the presence of NOx were investigated in a 6400 l all-Teflon chamber. The reaction products identified were fluorenone, 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-nitrofluorene, three hydroxyfluorene isomers, three nitrofluorenone isomers and three hydroxynitrofluorene isomers. Of the reaction products identified, fluorenone was formed in the highest yield (9 +/- 5 %). The formation yields of the individual nitrofluorenes were in the order 3-nitrofluorene > 1-nitrofluorene > 4-nitrofluorene > 2-nitrofluorene, with the average 3-nitrofluorene yield being 1.4% and the total nitrofluorene yield being 2.5%. Diesel soot and ambient particulate matter showed relatively low concentrations of total nitrofluorenes when compared with the other nitro-PAH present. The measured ambient atmospheric concentrations of the nitrofluorenes are compared with levels expected on the basis of the nitrofluorene product yields from the OH radical-initiated reaction of fluorene.