Samarita Sarker^1,2, Raghava R. Kommalapati^1,2*, Ziaul Huque^1,3

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¹ NSF CREST Center for Energy & Environmental Sustainability, Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, TX, USA.
² Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, TX, USA.
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, TX, USA.
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Abstract: Secondary pollutant ozone (O₃) formation in a particular area is often influenced by various factors. Source of emissions is one of the factors. In south east Texas, Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) is a marginal non-attainment area for ozone (O₃). A summer episode of May 28 to July 2, 2006 is simulated using Comprehensive Air Quality Model with extensions (CAMx). During this period O₃ concentration in HGB often exceeds the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) 0.075 ppm of average 8 hour O₃ concentration. HGB area has numerous point sources. Various studies found that some specific volatile organic compounds are very reactive in atmosphere. The objective of this study is to analyze the influence of volatile organic compounds present in point source emissions on the air quality of HGB area. For this purpose ozone sensitivity for HGB area is analyzed by the ratio of hydrogen peroxides (H₂O₂) to nitric acid (HNO₃). HGB area is found NOx limited but reactive VOCs are found to be influential too. From (1-4 June, 2006) maximum O₃ concentration was found on weekend, June 3. VOCs such as Acetaldehyde (ALD₂), Formaldehyde (FORM) and Alkane (ETHA) showed good correlation with O₃ concentrations on that day. In addition, Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) formation was found correlated to higher ozone production. Criteria pollutant Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) was found to influence the ALD₂ and ETHA concentrations, and thus indirectly influenced O₃ production.

Keywords: Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Ozone (O₃), Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), Correlation of VOC with O₃

Cite this paper: Sarker, S. , Kommalapati, R. and Huque, Z. (2015) Influence of Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds on Ozone Production in Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Area. Journal of Environmental Protection, 6, 399-408. doi: 10.4236/jep.2015.64039.

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