The Composition and Photochemical Reactivity of Non-Methane Hydrocarbons in Lower Atmosphere

Abstract

The measurement of non-methane hydrocarbon components was carried out over the southern part of Kanto district by use of aircraft in July 22nd and 23rd of 1982. The data were analyzed in relation to the concentration and the correlation of each hydrocarbon components, and OHREAC which was one of a photochemical reactivity index of mixed hydrocarbons described by Uno et al.
The concentration and OHREAC both showed very high value over the sourthern part of Saitama prefecture and Tokyo metropolitan area in both days. The hydrocarbons, which showed high concentration, were toluene, ethylene, acetylene, propane, n-butane, ethane, benzene and so on in both days. The correlationship between hydrocarbon components and ethane was fairly good except very high reactivity hydrocarbons like butenes. Especially, weak reactivity substances like butanes, propane and so on showed very good correlation with ethane.
As the result, in this research, it was clarified that the concentration of non-methane hydrocarbon components and OHREAC showed the high level over the polluted industrial area, and there were fairly good correlationship between hydrocarbon components except very high reactivity substances, which that was thought due to the progress of photochemical reaction.