Aerosol formation from the gas-phase reaction of hydroxyl radical with the natural hydrocarbon bornyl acetate

The gas-phase reaction of bornyl acetate (1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2,2,1]-heptan-2-ol-acetate) with hydroxyl radical has been studied in a smog chamber. It was found that the reaction of bornyl acetate with OH radicals leads to organic aerosols. The chemical composition of the aerosol was studied. On the basis of mass spectral data 1,7,7-trimethyl-6-acetyloxy-bicyclo[2.2.1]-heptan-2,3-dione has been tentatively identified in irradiated CH3ONO–NO–air–bornyl acetate mixtures. The aerosol carbon yield, the fraction of the carbon initially present that is converted to aerosol, has been estimated to be 5%.