https://doi.org/10.1051/epjap/2009063
Influence of humidity on photochemical ozone generation with 172 nm xenon excimer lamps
1
Scientific Advisor to UV Solutions, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
2
Retired from ABB Corporate Research, 5405 Baden, Switzerland
3
Department of Physics, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
Corresponding author: msalvermoser@yahoo.com
Received:
19
December
2008
Accepted:
23
January
2009
Published online:
17
April
2009
The reaction kinetics of photochemical ozone (O3) generation in humid air and oxygen (O2) using efficient, narrow band vacuum ultra violet (VUV) 172 nm xenon excimer lamps is discussed. Trace amounts of water (H2O) vapor in the process gas leads to hydroxyl (OH) and hydroperoxy (HO2) radical formation. These radicals drive a catalytic O3 destruction cycle limiting O3 saturation concentration. This catalytic O3 destruction cycle was included into a quantitative kinetic model describing photochemical O3 production. Experimental O3 saturation concentrations obtained with coaxial VUV driven photochemical O3 generators compare satisfactorily with the models predictions.
PACS: 82.30.Cf – Atom and radical reactions; chain reactions; molecule-molecule reactions / 82.50.Hp – Processes caused by visible and UV light / 82.50.Nd – Control of photochemical reactions
© EDP Sciences, 2009
