Atmospheric chemical loss processes of isocyanic acid (HNCO): a combined theoretical kinetic and global modelling study
Simon Rosanka, Giang H. T. Vu, Hue M. T. Nguyen, Tien V. Pham, Umar Javed, Domenico Taraborrelli, and Luc Vereecken
Abstract
Isocyanic acid (HNCO) is a chemical constituent suspected to be harmful to humans if ambient concentrations exceed ∼1 ppbv. HNCO is mainly emitted by combustion processes but is also inadvertently released by NOx mitigation measures in flue gas treatments. With increasing biomass burning and more widespread usage of catalytic converters in car engines, good prediction of HNCO atmospheric levels with global models is desirable. Little is known directly about the chemical loss processes of HNCO, which limits the implementation in global Earth system models. This study aims to close this knowledge gap by combining a theoretical kinetic study on the major oxidants reacting with HNCO with a global modelling study. ...