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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R36671/01
Title: A new method for the atmospheric detection of OH and HO2
Principal Investigator: Plane, Professor JMC
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
University of East Anglia
Department: Environmental Sciences
Organisation: University of East Anglia
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 January 2002 Ends: 30 June 2004 Value (£): 92,739
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Analytical Science Gas & Solution Phase Reactions
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Environment No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
GR/R36664/01
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The hydroxyl (OH) radical controls the oxidising capacity of the atmosphere, and its measurement is central to testing our understanding of atmospheric chemistry. However, because OH is so reactive it has ultra-low concentrations (= 1 part in 10' of air), and is extremely challenging to detect. Current methods require very expensive and sophisticated instrumentation. The present proposal is designed to investigate a new spectroscopic method thatappears to offer similar sensitivity, selectivity and time resolution, but is potentially much simpler and cheaper to implement.We have shown recently that the reaction NaH + OH -* Na + H20 leads to the efficient production of Na(3zPj), which then fluoresces at 589 nm. Based on this discovery we propose a new detector for atmospheric OH, where a flow of NaH is added into a stream of ambient air and the resulting 589 nm emission provides a spectroscopic marker. The HOz radical, another important species would be measured by conversion to OH following the addition of NO. The aim of this project is to explore the feasibility of using this new detection scheme. Underpinning laboratory measurements will b carried out at the University of East Anglia, followed by trials of a prototype detector at the University of Leeds, where there is an existing OH/HOz la based instrument.
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