New Directions: The biogenic acetone–HCN connection

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) 2001-01, Vol.35 (9), p.1713-1714
• Main Authors: Fall, Ray, Custer, Thomas G., Kato, Shuji, Bierbaum, Veronica M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/S1352-2310(00)00572-0

Interest in biogenic acetone (CH sub(3) COCH sub(3) ) has increased in recent years with the findings that this simple volatile organic compound (VOC) might have an important role in atmospheric chemistry. As first suggested by Singh and co-workers (Nature, Vol. 378 (1995) pp. 50-54), acetone concentrations in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere are sufficiently high (ca. 300-500 pptv) that acetone photolysis can generate significant amounts of HO sub(x) radicals (HO + HO sub(2) ). Several research groups have verified this basic finding. HO sub(x) plays a key role in maintaining the oxidative power of the atmosphere. Acetone is also a precursor of peroxyacetyl nitrate, which contributes to sequestration and long-range transport of reactive nitrogen. For these reasons there has been some interest in assessing the relative contribution of biogenic and anthropogenic sources of acetone, so that the trend(s) in these emission sources might be better understood and modeled. Here, we describe how we recently uncovered what may be a surprising link between acetone and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in the atmosphere.