This project resulted from an alleged dust problem affecting the residents in a Florida community. The residents claimed that there were elevated dust levels caused by a rock quarry adjacent to their homes. The purpose of this work was to assess total particulate, respirable particulate, and the coarse content of the sampled particles through traditional NIOSH methods, and using a new, real-time instrument known as the EPAM 5000. Data from the EPAM and NIOSH methods were compared to the EPA's particulate matter standards and the OSHA permissible exposure limits for total and respirable dust. Dust levels using the NIOSH methods were below the limit of detection. There were measurable dust levels in all three size fractions (PM10, PM[subscript 2.5], PM1) for the EPAM. Due to the undetectable levels of the NIOSH method sampling, further sampling in a laboratory environment was conducted in order to compare NIOSH methods with the EPAM 5000 method. The project continued into an aerosol chamber in the USF College of Public Health Breath Lab for further data collection in order to compare results using traditional NIOSH methods with the results obtained from the EPAM 5000. The chamber was associated with a dust generator that released a steady flow of fly ash particulate at a specific revolution per minute (rpm). Each run of data collection sampled approximately 1 m³ of air and persisted for six to seven hours. Four separate runs were conducted, each at a different generation rate of fly ash. There were measurable dust levels using the NIOSH total dust and NIOSH respirable dust methods. There were also measurable dust levels in all three size fractions (PM10, PM[subscript 2.5], PM1) for the EPAM. The results of all methods were compared. The PM[subscript 2.5] and PM1 sampling heads of the EPAM 5000 were compared to the NIOSH respirable dust sampling results. The PM10 sampling head of the EPAM was compared to the NIOSH total dust sampling results. NIOSH 0500 concentration results were within 10% of the EPAM PM10 concentration.

The ubiquitous abundance of organic compounds in natural and anthorpogenically influenced eco-systems has put these compounds into the focus of atmospheric research. Organic compounds have an impact on air quality, climate, and human health. Moreover, they affect particle growth, secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, and the global radiation budget by altering particle properties. To investigate the multiphase chemistry of organic compounds and interactions with the aqueous phase in the troposphere, modelling can provide a useful tool. The oxidation of larger organic molecules to the final product CO2 can involve a huge number of intermediate compounds and tens of thousands of reactions. Therefore, the creation of explicit mechanisms relies on automated mechanism construction. Estimation methods for the prediction of the kinetic data needed to describe the degradation of these intermediates are inevitable due to the infeasibility of an experimental determination of all necessary data. Current aqueous phase descriptions of organic chemistry lag behind the gas phase descriptions in atmospheric chemical mechanisms despite its importance for the multiphase chemistry of organic compounds. In this dissertation, the gas phase mechanism Generator for Explicit Chemistry and Kinetics of Organics in the Atmosphere (GECKO-A) has been advanced by a protocol for the description of the oxidation of organic compounds in the aqueous phase. Therefore, a database with kinetic data of 465 aqueous phase hydroxyl radical and 129 aqueous phase nitrate radical reactions with organic compounds has been compiled and evaluated. The database was used to evaluate currently available estimation methods for the prediction of aqueous phase kinetic data of reactions of organic compounds. Among the investigated methods were correlations of gas and aqueous kinetic data, kinetic data of homologous series of various compound classes, reactivity comparisons of inorganic radical oxidants, Evans-Polanyi-type correlations, and structure-activity relationships (SARs). Evans-Polanyi-type correlations have been improved for the purpose of automated mechanism self-generation of mechanisms with large organic molecules. A protocol has been designed based on SARs for hydroxyl radical reactions and the improved Evans-Polanyi-type correlations for nitrate radical reactions with organic compounds. The protocol was assessed in a series of critical sensitivity studies, where uncertainties of critical parameters were investigated. The advanced multiphase generator GECKO-A was used to generate mechanisms, which were applied in box model studies and validated against two sets of aerosol chamber experiments. Experiments differed by the initial compounds used (hexane and trimethylbenzene) and the experimental conditions (UV-C lights off/on and additional in-situ hydroxyl radical source no/yes). Reasonable to good agreement of the modelled and experimental results was achieved in these studies. Finally, GECKO-A was used to create two new CAPRAM version, where, for the first time, branchingratios for different reaction pathways were introduced and the chemistry of compounds with up to four carbon atoms has been extended. The most detailed mechanism comprises 4174 compounds and 7145 processes. Detailed investigations were performed under real tropospheric conditions in urban and remote continental environments. Model results showed significant improvements, especially in regard to the formation of organic aerosol mass. Detailed investigations of concentration-time profiles and chemical fluxes refined the current knowledge of the multiphase processing of organic compounds in the troposphere, but also pointed at current limitations of the generator protocol, the mechanisms created, and current understanding of aqueous phase processes of organic compounds. / Das zahlreiche Vorkommen organischer Verbindungen in natürlichen und anthropogen beeinflussten Ökosystemen hat diese Verbindungen in den Fokus der Atmosphärenforschung gerückt. Organische Verbindungen beeinträchtigen die Luftqualität, die menschliche Gesundheit und das Klima. Weiterhin werden Partikelwachstum und -eigenschaften, sekundäre organische Partikelbildung und dadurch der globale Strahlungshaushalt durch sie beeinflusst. Um die troposphärische Multiphasenchemie organischer Verbindungen und Wechselwirkungen mit der Flüssigphase zu untersuchen, sind Modellstudien hilfreich. Die Oxidation großer organischer Moleküle führt zu einer Vielzahl an Zwischenprodukten. Der Abbau erfolgt in unzähligen Reaktionen bis hin zum Endprodukt CO2. Bei der Entwicklung expliziter Mechanismen muss deshalb für diese Verbindungen auf computergestützte, automatisierte Methoden zurückgegriffen werden. Abschätzungsmethoden für die Vorhersage kinetischer Daten zur Beschreibung des Abbaus der Zwischenprodukte sind unabdingbar, da eine experimentelle Bestimmung aller benötigten Daten nicht realisierbar ist. Die derzeitige Beschreibung der Flüssigphasenchemie unterliegt deutlich den Beschreibungen der Gasphase in atmosphärischen Chemiemechanismen trotz deren Relevanz für die Multiphasenchemie. In dieser Arbeit wurde der Gasphasenmechanismusgenerator GECKO-A (“Generator for Explicit Chemistry and Kinetics of Organics in the Atmosphere”) um ein Protokoll zur Oxidation organischer Verbindungen in der Flüssigphase erweitert. Dazu wurde eine Datenbank mit kinetischen Daten von 465 Hydroxylradikal- und 129 Nitratradikalreaktionen mit organischen Verbindungen angelegt und evaluiert. Mit Hilfe der Datenbank wurden derzeitige Abschätzungsmethoden für die Vorhersage kinetischer Daten von Flüssigphasenreaktionen organischer Verbindungen evaluiert. Die untersuchten Methoden beinhalteten Korrelationen kinetischer Daten aus Gas- und Flüssigphase, homologer Reihen verschiedener Stoffklassen, Reaktivitätsvergleiche, Evans-Polanyi-Korrelationen und Struktur-Reaktivitätsbeziehungen. Für die Mechanismusgenerierung großer organischer Moleküle wurden die Evans-Polanyi-Korrelationen in dieser Arbeit weiterentwickelt. Es wurde ein Protokol für die Mechanismusgenerierung entwickelt, das auf Struktur-Reaktivitätsbeziehungen bei Reaktionen von organischen Verbindungen mit OH-Radikalen und auf den erweiterten Evans-Polanyi-Korrelationen bei NO3-Radikalreaktionen beruht. Das Protokoll wurde umfangreich in einer Reihe von Sensitivitätsstudien getestet, um Unsicherheiten kritischer Parameter abzuschätzen. Der erweiterte Multiphasengenerator GECKO-A wurde dazu verwendet, neue Mechanismen zu generieren, die in Boxmodellstudien gegen Aerosolkammerexperimente evaluiert wurden. Die Experimentreihen unterschieden sich sowohl in der betrachteten Ausgangssubstanz (Hexan und Trimethylbenzen) und dem Experimentaufbau (ohne oder mit UV-C-Photolyse und ohne oder mit zusätzlicher partikulärer Hydroxylradikalquelle). Bei den Experimenten konnte eine zufriedenstellende bis gute Übereinstimmung der experimentellen und Modellergebnisse erreicht werden. Weiterhin wurde GECKO-A verwendet, um zwei neue CAPRAM-Versionen mit bis zu 4174 Verbindungen und 7145 Prozessen zu generieren. Erstmals wurden Verzweigungsverhältnisse in CAPRAM eingeführt. Außerdem wurde die Chemie organischer Verbindungen mit bis zu vier Kohlenstoffatomen erweitert. Umfangreiche Untersuchungen unter realistischen troposphärischen Bedingungen in urbanen und ländlichen Gebieten haben deutliche Verbesserungen der erweiterten Mechanismen besonders in Bezug auf Massenzuwachs des organischen Aerosolanteils gezeigt. Das Verständnis der organischen Multiphasenchemie konnte durch detaillierte Untersuchungen zu den Konzentrations-Zeit-Profilen und chemischen Flüssen vertieft werden, aber auch gegenwärtige Limitierungen des Generators, der erzeugten Mechanismen und unseres Verständnisses für Flüssigphasenprozesse organischer Verbindungen aufgezeigt werden.

The ubiquitous abundance of organic compounds in natural and anthorpogenically influenced eco-systems has put these compounds into the focus of atmospheric research. Organic compounds have an impact on air quality, climate, and human health. Moreover, they affect particle growth, secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, and the global radiation budget by altering particle properties. To investigate the multiphase chemistry of organic compounds and interactions with the aqueous phase in the troposphere, modelling can provide a useful tool. The oxidation of larger organic molecules to the final product CO2 can involve a huge number of intermediate compounds and tens of thousands of reactions. Therefore, the creation of explicit mechanisms relies on automated mechanism construction. Estimation methods for the prediction of the kinetic data needed to describe the degradation of these intermediates are inevitable due to the infeasibility of an experimental determination of all necessary data. Current aqueous phase descriptions of organic chemistry lag behind the gas phase descriptions in atmospheric chemical mechanisms despite its importance for the multiphase chemistry of organic compounds. In this dissertation, the gas phase mechanism Generator for Explicit Chemistry and Kinetics of Organics in the Atmosphere (GECKO-A) has been advanced by a protocol for the description of the oxidation of organic compounds in the aqueous phase. Therefore, a database with kinetic data of 465 aqueous phase hydroxyl radical and 129 aqueous phase nitrate radical reactions with organic compounds has been compiled and evaluated. The database was used to evaluate currently available estimation methods for the prediction of aqueous phase kinetic data of reactions of organic compounds. Among the investigated methods were correlations of gas and aqueous kinetic data, kinetic data of homologous series of various compound classes, reactivity comparisons of inorganic radical oxidants, Evans-Polanyi-type correlations, and structure-activity relationships (SARs). Evans-Polanyi-type correlations have been improved for the purpose of automated mechanism self-generation of mechanisms with large organic molecules. A protocol has been designed based on SARs for hydroxyl radical reactions and the improved Evans-Polanyi-type correlations for nitrate radical reactions with organic compounds. The protocol was assessed in a series of critical sensitivity studies, where uncertainties of critical parameters were investigated. The advanced multiphase generator GECKO-A was used to generate mechanisms, which were applied in box model studies and validated against two sets of aerosol chamber experiments. Experiments differed by the initial compounds used (hexane and trimethylbenzene) and the experimental conditions (UV-C lights off/on and additional in-situ hydroxyl radical source no/yes). Reasonable to good agreement of the modelled and experimental results was achieved in these studies. Finally, GECKO-A was used to create two new CAPRAM version, where, for the first time, branchingratios for different reaction pathways were introduced and the chemistry of compounds with up to four carbon atoms has been extended. The most detailed mechanism comprises 4174 compounds and 7145 processes. Detailed investigations were performed under real tropospheric conditions in urban and remote continental environments. Model results showed significant improvements, especially in regard to the formation of organic aerosol mass. Detailed investigations of concentration-time profiles and chemical fluxes refined the current knowledge of the multiphase processing of organic compounds in the troposphere, but also pointed at current limitations of the generator protocol, the mechanisms created, and current understanding of aqueous phase processes of organic compounds.:1 Introduction and motivation 2 Theoretical background 2.1 General overview of the tropospheric multiphase chemistry of organic compounds 2.1.1 Gas phase chemistry 2.1.2 Phase transfer 2.1.3 Aqueous phase chemistry 2.2 Tropospheric multiphase chemistry mechanisms 2.2.1 Gas phase mechanisms 2.2.2 Aqueous phase mechanisms 2.2.3 The multiphase mechanism MCMv3.1-CAPRAM 3.0n 2.2.3.1 MCMv3.1 2.2.3.2 CAPRAM 3.0n 2.3 Multiphase chemistry box models 2.3.1 Overview 2.3.2 The model SPACCIM 2.3.2.1 Overview 2.3.2.2 The microphysical scheme 2.3.2.3 The chemical and phase transfer scheme 2.3.2.4 The coupling scheme 2.4 Prediction of aqueous phase kinetic data 2.4.1 Simple correlations 2.4.2 Evans-Polanyi-correlations 2.4.3 Structure-activity relationships 2.5 The generator GECKO-A 3 Evaluation of kinetic data and prediction methods 3.1 Compilation and evaluation of aqueous phase kinetic data 3.2 Extrapolation of gas phase rate constants to the aqueous phase 3.3 Homologous series of compound classes 3.4 Radical reactivity comparisons 3.5 Evans-Polanyi-type correlations 3.5.1 OH rate constant prediction 3.5.2 NO3 rate constant prediction 3.5.3 Development of an advanced Evans-Polanyi-type correlation 3.6 Structure-activity relationships 3.7 Conclusions from the evaluation process 4 Development of the new aqueous phase protocol and its implementation into GECKO-A 4.1 Initialisation and workflow of GECKO-A 4.2 Estimation of phase transfer data 4.3 OH reactions of stable compounds 4.4 NO3 reactions of stable compounds 4.5 Hydration of carbonyl compounds 4.6 Hydrolysis of carbonyl nitrates 4.7 Dissociation of carboxylic acids 4.8 Degradation of radical compounds 4.8.1 RO2 recombinations and cross-reactions 4.8.2 HO2 elimination of ff-hydroxy peroxy radicals 4.8.3 Degradation of acylperoxy radicals 4.8.4 Degradation of fi-carboxyl peroxy radicals 4.8.5 Degradation of alkoxy radicals 4.8.6 Degradation of acyloxy radicals 5 Investigation and refinement of crucial parameters in GECKO-A and CAPRAM mechanism development 5.1 Formation and degradation of polycarbonyl compounds in the protocol 5.2 Influence of the mass accommodation coefficient on the organic multiphase chemistry and composition 5.3 Influence of the cut-off parameter for minor reaction pathways 5.4 Influence of the chosen SAR in the protocol 5.5 Processing of organic mass fraction in the protocol 5.5.1 Parameterisations for radical attack of the overall organic mass fraction 5.5.2 Detailed studies of organic nitrate sinks and sources 5.5.3 Phase transfer of oxygenated organic compounds in the protocol 5.5.4 Decay of alkoxy radicals in the protocol 5.5.5 Revision of the GROMHE thermodynamic database 5.6 Influence of the nitrate radical chemistry 5.7 The final protocol for aqueous phase mechanism self-generation 5.8 CAPRAM mechanism development 5.8.1 CAPRAM 3.0 5.8.2 CAPRAM 3.5 5.8.3 CAPRAM 4.0 6 Model results and discussion 6.1 Comparisons of model results with aerosol chamber experiments 6.1.1 Design of the aerosol chamber experiments 6.1.1.1 Hexane oxidation experiment 6.1.1.2 Trimethylbenzene oxidation experiment 6.1.2 Mechanism generation and model setup 6.1.2.1 Hexane oxidation experiment 6.1.2.2 Trimethylbenzene oxidation experiment 6.1.3 Evaluation of the model versus aerosol chamber results 6.1.3.1 Hexane oxidation experiment 6.1.3.2 Trimethylbenzene oxidation experiment 6.2 Simulations with a ‘real atmosphere’ scenario 6.2.1 Model setup 6.2.2 Meteorological and microphysical parameters 6.2.3 Influence of the extended organic scheme on the particle acidity and SOA formation 6.2.3.1 Particle acidity 6.2.3.2 Particle mass 6.2.4 Influence of the extended organic scheme on inorganic radical oxidants 6.2.4.1 OH chemistry 6.2.4.2 NO3 chemistry 6.2.4.3 Comparison of OH and NO3 chemistry 6.2.4.4 HO2/O2- chemistry 6.2.5 Influence of the extended organic scheme on inorganic non-radical oxidants 6.2.5.1 H2O2 chemistry 6.2.5.2 O3 chemistry 6.2.6 Influence of the extended organic scheme on inorganic particulate matter 6.2.6.1 Sulfate chemistry 6.2.6.2 Nitrate chemistry 6.2.6.3 TMI chemistry 6.2.7 Detailed investigations of selected organic subsystems 6.2.7.1 Monofunctional organic compounds 6.2.7.2 Carbonyl compounds 6.2.7.3 Dicarboxylic acids and functionalised monocarboxylic acids 7 Conclusions References Glossary Acronyms List of symbols List of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgements Curriculum Vitae List of relevant publications Peer-reviewed publications Oral conference contributions Poster conference contributions Appendix A Overview of selected compound classes of tropospheric relevance B Detailed description of the function of SARs C The kinetic database C.1 Reactions of hydroxyl radicals with organic compounds C.2 Reactions of nitrate radicals with organic compounds D Detailed information about the evaluation of prediction methods D.1 Rate data used for the derivation and evaluation of gas-aqueous phase correlations D.2 Explanation of the use of box plots D.3 Additional correlations of homologous series of various compound classes D.4 Additional information of Evans-Polanyi-type correlations D.5 Additional information of structure-activity relationships E Additional information for the development of the protocol of GECKO-A E.1 Investigations on the decay of acylperoxy radicals E.2 Additional information about the sensitivity of mass accomodation coefficients E.3 Additional information about the sensitivity studies concerning the decay of polycarbonyls E.4 Additional information about the sensitivity studies concerning the omission of minor reaction pathways E.5 Additional information about the sensitivity studies concerning the processing of the organic mass fraction E.6 Additional information about the influence of the nitrate radical chemistry F Additional information about the mechanism generation and model initialisation F.1 List of primary compounds used for the generation of CAPRAM 3.5 F.2 List of primary compounds used for the generation of CAPRAM 4.0 F.3 Model initialization of the ‘real atmosphere’ scenarios G The CAPRAM oxidation scheme G.1 Photolysis processes G.2 Inorganic chemistry G.2.1 Phase transfer processes G.2.2 Chemical conversions G.3 Organic chemistry G.3.1 Phase transfer processes G.3.2 Chemical conversions H Detailed information about the model validation with chamber experiments H.1 Additional information about the initialisation of the hexane oxidation experiment H.2 Additional model results from the hexane oxidation experiment H.3 Additional information about the sensitivity runs used in the trimethylbenzene oxidation experiment H.4 Additional results from the TMB oxidation experiment I Additional results from the ‘real atmosphere’ scenario I.1 Particle acidity and SOA formation I.2 Radical oxidants I.3 Organic compounds References of the Appendix / Das zahlreiche Vorkommen organischer Verbindungen in natürlichen und anthropogen beeinflussten Ökosystemen hat diese Verbindungen in den Fokus der Atmosphärenforschung gerückt. Organische Verbindungen beeinträchtigen die Luftqualität, die menschliche Gesundheit und das Klima. Weiterhin werden Partikelwachstum und -eigenschaften, sekundäre organische Partikelbildung und dadurch der globale Strahlungshaushalt durch sie beeinflusst. Um die troposphärische Multiphasenchemie organischer Verbindungen und Wechselwirkungen mit der Flüssigphase zu untersuchen, sind Modellstudien hilfreich. Die Oxidation großer organischer Moleküle führt zu einer Vielzahl an Zwischenprodukten. Der Abbau erfolgt in unzähligen Reaktionen bis hin zum Endprodukt CO2. Bei der Entwicklung expliziter Mechanismen muss deshalb für diese Verbindungen auf computergestützte, automatisierte Methoden zurückgegriffen werden. Abschätzungsmethoden für die Vorhersage kinetischer Daten zur Beschreibung des Abbaus der Zwischenprodukte sind unabdingbar, da eine experimentelle Bestimmung aller benötigten Daten nicht realisierbar ist. Die derzeitige Beschreibung der Flüssigphasenchemie unterliegt deutlich den Beschreibungen der Gasphase in atmosphärischen Chemiemechanismen trotz deren Relevanz für die Multiphasenchemie. In dieser Arbeit wurde der Gasphasenmechanismusgenerator GECKO-A (“Generator for Explicit Chemistry and Kinetics of Organics in the Atmosphere”) um ein Protokoll zur Oxidation organischer Verbindungen in der Flüssigphase erweitert. Dazu wurde eine Datenbank mit kinetischen Daten von 465 Hydroxylradikal- und 129 Nitratradikalreaktionen mit organischen Verbindungen angelegt und evaluiert. Mit Hilfe der Datenbank wurden derzeitige Abschätzungsmethoden für die Vorhersage kinetischer Daten von Flüssigphasenreaktionen organischer Verbindungen evaluiert. Die untersuchten Methoden beinhalteten Korrelationen kinetischer Daten aus Gas- und Flüssigphase, homologer Reihen verschiedener Stoffklassen, Reaktivitätsvergleiche, Evans-Polanyi-Korrelationen und Struktur-Reaktivitätsbeziehungen. Für die Mechanismusgenerierung großer organischer Moleküle wurden die Evans-Polanyi-Korrelationen in dieser Arbeit weiterentwickelt. Es wurde ein Protokol für die Mechanismusgenerierung entwickelt, das auf Struktur-Reaktivitätsbeziehungen bei Reaktionen von organischen Verbindungen mit OH-Radikalen und auf den erweiterten Evans-Polanyi-Korrelationen bei NO3-Radikalreaktionen beruht. Das Protokoll wurde umfangreich in einer Reihe von Sensitivitätsstudien getestet, um Unsicherheiten kritischer Parameter abzuschätzen. Der erweiterte Multiphasengenerator GECKO-A wurde dazu verwendet, neue Mechanismen zu generieren, die in Boxmodellstudien gegen Aerosolkammerexperimente evaluiert wurden. Die Experimentreihen unterschieden sich sowohl in der betrachteten Ausgangssubstanz (Hexan und Trimethylbenzen) und dem Experimentaufbau (ohne oder mit UV-C-Photolyse und ohne oder mit zusätzlicher partikulärer Hydroxylradikalquelle). Bei den Experimenten konnte eine zufriedenstellende bis gute Übereinstimmung der experimentellen und Modellergebnisse erreicht werden. Weiterhin wurde GECKO-A verwendet, um zwei neue CAPRAM-Versionen mit bis zu 4174 Verbindungen und 7145 Prozessen zu generieren. Erstmals wurden Verzweigungsverhältnisse in CAPRAM eingeführt. Außerdem wurde die Chemie organischer Verbindungen mit bis zu vier Kohlenstoffatomen erweitert. Umfangreiche Untersuchungen unter realistischen troposphärischen Bedingungen in urbanen und ländlichen Gebieten haben deutliche Verbesserungen der erweiterten Mechanismen besonders in Bezug auf Massenzuwachs des organischen Aerosolanteils gezeigt. Das Verständnis der organischen Multiphasenchemie konnte durch detaillierte Untersuchungen zu den Konzentrations-Zeit-Profilen und chemischen Flüssen vertieft werden, aber auch gegenwärtige Limitierungen des Generators, der erzeugten Mechanismen und unseres Verständnisses für Flüssigphasenprozesse organischer Verbindungen aufgezeigt werden.:1 Introduction and motivation 2 Theoretical background 2.1 General overview of the tropospheric multiphase chemistry of organic compounds 2.1.1 Gas phase chemistry 2.1.2 Phase transfer 2.1.3 Aqueous phase chemistry 2.2 Tropospheric multiphase chemistry mechanisms 2.2.1 Gas phase mechanisms 2.2.2 Aqueous phase mechanisms 2.2.3 The multiphase mechanism MCMv3.1-CAPRAM 3.0n 2.2.3.1 MCMv3.1 2.2.3.2 CAPRAM 3.0n 2.3 Multiphase chemistry box models 2.3.1 Overview 2.3.2 The model SPACCIM 2.3.2.1 Overview 2.3.2.2 The microphysical scheme 2.3.2.3 The chemical and phase transfer scheme 2.3.2.4 The coupling scheme 2.4 Prediction of aqueous phase kinetic data 2.4.1 Simple correlations 2.4.2 Evans-Polanyi-correlations 2.4.3 Structure-activity relationships 2.5 The generator GECKO-A 3 Evaluation of kinetic data and prediction methods 3.1 Compilation and evaluation of aqueous phase kinetic data 3.2 Extrapolation of gas phase rate constants to the aqueous phase 3.3 Homologous series of compound classes 3.4 Radical reactivity comparisons 3.5 Evans-Polanyi-type correlations 3.5.1 OH rate constant prediction 3.5.2 NO3 rate constant prediction 3.5.3 Development of an advanced Evans-Polanyi-type correlation 3.6 Structure-activity relationships 3.7 Conclusions from the evaluation process 4 Development of the new aqueous phase protocol and its implementation into GECKO-A 4.1 Initialisation and workflow of GECKO-A 4.2 Estimation of phase transfer data 4.3 OH reactions of stable compounds 4.4 NO3 reactions of stable compounds 4.5 Hydration of carbonyl compounds 4.6 Hydrolysis of carbonyl nitrates 4.7 Dissociation of carboxylic acids 4.8 Degradation of radical compounds 4.8.1 RO2 recombinations and cross-reactions 4.8.2 HO2 elimination of ff-hydroxy peroxy radicals 4.8.3 Degradation of acylperoxy radicals 4.8.4 Degradation of fi-carboxyl peroxy radicals 4.8.5 Degradation of alkoxy radicals 4.8.6 Degradation of acyloxy radicals 5 Investigation and refinement of crucial parameters in GECKO-A and CAPRAM mechanism development 5.1 Formation and degradation of polycarbonyl compounds in the protocol 5.2 Influence of the mass accommodation coefficient on the organic multiphase chemistry and composition 5.3 Influence of the cut-off parameter for minor reaction pathways 5.4 Influence of the chosen SAR in the protocol 5.5 Processing of organic mass fraction in the protocol 5.5.1 Parameterisations for radical attack of the overall organic mass fraction 5.5.2 Detailed studies of organic nitrate sinks and sources 5.5.3 Phase transfer of oxygenated organic compounds in the protocol 5.5.4 Decay of alkoxy radicals in the protocol 5.5.5 Revision of the GROMHE thermodynamic database 5.6 Influence of the nitrate radical chemistry 5.7 The final protocol for aqueous phase mechanism self-generation 5.8 CAPRAM mechanism development 5.8.1 CAPRAM 3.0 5.8.2 CAPRAM 3.5 5.8.3 CAPRAM 4.0 6 Model results and discussion 6.1 Comparisons of model results with aerosol chamber experiments 6.1.1 Design of the aerosol chamber experiments 6.1.1.1 Hexane oxidation experiment 6.1.1.2 Trimethylbenzene oxidation experiment 6.1.2 Mechanism generation and model setup 6.1.2.1 Hexane oxidation experiment 6.1.2.2 Trimethylbenzene oxidation experiment 6.1.3 Evaluation of the model versus aerosol chamber results 6.1.3.1 Hexane oxidation experiment 6.1.3.2 Trimethylbenzene oxidation experiment 6.2 Simulations with a ‘real atmosphere’ scenario 6.2.1 Model setup 6.2.2 Meteorological and microphysical parameters 6.2.3 Influence of the extended organic scheme on the particle acidity and SOA formation 6.2.3.1 Particle acidity 6.2.3.2 Particle mass 6.2.4 Influence of the extended organic scheme on inorganic radical oxidants 6.2.4.1 OH chemistry 6.2.4.2 NO3 chemistry 6.2.4.3 Comparison of OH and NO3 chemistry 6.2.4.4 HO2/O2- chemistry 6.2.5 Influence of the extended organic scheme on inorganic non-radical oxidants 6.2.5.1 H2O2 chemistry 6.2.5.2 O3 chemistry 6.2.6 Influence of the extended organic scheme on inorganic particulate matter 6.2.6.1 Sulfate chemistry 6.2.6.2 Nitrate chemistry 6.2.6.3 TMI chemistry 6.2.7 Detailed investigations of selected organic subsystems 6.2.7.1 Monofunctional organic compounds 6.2.7.2 Carbonyl compounds 6.2.7.3 Dicarboxylic acids and functionalised monocarboxylic acids 7 Conclusions References Glossary Acronyms List of symbols List of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgements Curriculum Vitae List of relevant publications Peer-reviewed publications Oral conference contributions Poster conference contributions Appendix A Overview of selected compound classes of tropospheric relevance B Detailed description of the function of SARs C The kinetic database C.1 Reactions of hydroxyl radicals with organic compounds C.2 Reactions of nitrate radicals with organic compounds D Detailed information about the evaluation of prediction methods D.1 Rate data used for the derivation and evaluation of gas-aqueous phase correlations D.2 Explanation of the use of box plots D.3 Additional correlations of homologous series of various compound classes D.4 Additional information of Evans-Polanyi-type correlations D.5 Additional information of structure-activity relationships E Additional information for the development of the protocol of GECKO-A E.1 Investigations on the decay of acylperoxy radicals E.2 Additional information about the sensitivity of mass accomodation coefficients E.3 Additional information about the sensitivity studies concerning the decay of polycarbonyls E.4 Additional information about the sensitivity studies concerning the omission of minor reaction pathways E.5 Additional information about the sensitivity studies concerning the processing of the organic mass fraction E.6 Additional information about the influence of the nitrate radical chemistry F Additional information about the mechanism generation and model initialisation F.1 List of primary compounds used for the generation of CAPRAM 3.5 F.2 List of primary compounds used for the generation of CAPRAM 4.0 F.3 Model initialization of the ‘real atmosphere’ scenarios G The CAPRAM oxidation scheme G.1 Photolysis processes G.2 Inorganic chemistry G.2.1 Phase transfer processes G.2.2 Chemical conversions G.3 Organic chemistry G.3.1 Phase transfer processes G.3.2 Chemical conversions H Detailed information about the model validation with chamber experiments H.1 Additional information about the initialisation of the hexane oxidation experiment H.2 Additional model results from the hexane oxidation experiment H.3 Additional information about the sensitivity runs used in the trimethylbenzene oxidation experiment H.4 Additional results from the TMB oxidation experiment I Additional results from the ‘real atmosphere’ scenario I.1 Particle acidity and SOA formation I.2 Radical oxidants I.3 Organic compounds References of the Appendix