Homogeneous oxidation of sulphur compounds in the atmosphere

Work carried out under the European COST 61a Project on the homogeneous oxidation of sulphur compounds in the atmosphere is briefly reviewed. Mechanisms for sulphur dioxide can be divided into three classes; 1. (a) oxidation by free radicals generated photochemically, 2. (b) oxidation by intermediat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmospheric environment 1978, Vol.12 (1), p.227-230
Main Authors: Eggleton, A.E.J., Cox, R.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Work carried out under the European COST 61a Project on the homogeneous oxidation of sulphur compounds in the atmosphere is briefly reviewed. Mechanisms for sulphur dioxide can be divided into three classes; 1. (a) oxidation by free radicals generated photochemically, 2. (b) oxidation by intermediates produced in thermal reactions, and 3. (c) direct photo-oxidation. Only (a) makes a substantial contribution to SO 2 oxidation with calculated maximum rates of between 2 and 6% h −1 in sunlight irradiated urban air during summer months and 1–2% h −1 in unpolluted air. Most of the oxidation is brought about by the attack of the OH radical on SO 2 but the contribution of RO 2 radical attack is not well determined due to uncertainties in RO 2 rate constants. H 2S, CH 3SH and (CH 3) 2S react with OH radicals giving atmospheric life-times about 1 day.
ISSN:0004-6981
1352-2310
DOI:10.1016/0004-6981(78)90202-0