scholarly journals Unusual Chemical Processes in Interstellar Chemistry: Past and Present

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Herbst
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Surface Reactions ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Processes And Reactions ◽  
Potential Wells ◽  
Interstellar Clouds ◽  
Points Of View ◽  
Three Body ◽  
Diffusive Processes

The chemistry that occurs in interstellar clouds consists of both gas-phase processes and reactions on the surfaces of dust grains, the latter particularly on and in water-dominated ice mantles in cold clouds. Some of these processes, especially at low temperature, are very unusual by terrestrial standards. For example, in the gas-phase, two-body association reactions form a metastable species known as a complex, which is then stabilized by the emission of radiation under low-density conditions, especially at low temperatures. In the solid phase, it has been thought that the major process for surface reactions is diffusive in nature, occurring when two species undergoing random walks collide with each other on a surface that has both potential wells and intermediate barriers. There is experimental evidence for this process, although very few rates at low interstellar temperatures are well measured. Moreover, since dust particles are discrete, modeling has to take account that reactant pairs are on the same grain, a problem that can be treated using stochastic approaches. In addition, it has been shown more recently that surface reactions can occur more rapidly if they undergo any of a number of non-diffusive processes including so-called three-body mechanisms. There is some experimental support for this hypothesis. These and other unusual gaseous and solid-state processes will be discussed from the theoretical and experimental points of view, and their possible role in the synthesis of organic molecules in interstellar clouds explained. In addition, their historical development will be reviewed.

scholarly journals The Effect of an Inert Solid Reservoir on Molecular Abundances in Dense Interstellar Clouds

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juris Kalvāns ◽  
Ivar Shmeld
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Reference Model ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Interstellar Gas ◽  
Interstellar Clouds ◽  
Major Chemical ◽  
Molecular Abundances ◽  
Phase Chemistry ◽  
Grain Surface

AbstractThe question, what is the role of freeze-out of chemical species in determining the molecular abundances in the interstellar gas is a matter of debate. We investigate a theoretical case of a dense interstellar molecular cloud core by time-dependent modeling of chemical kinetics, where grain surface reactions deliberately are not included. That means, the gas-phase and solid-phase abundances are influenced only by gas reactions, accretion on grains and desorption. We compare the results to a reference model where no accretion occurs, and only gas-phase reactions are included. We can trace that the purely physical processes of molecule accretion and desorption have major chemical consequences on the gas-phase chemistry. The main effect of introduction of the gas-grain interaction is long-term molecule abundance changes that come nowhere near an equilibrium during the typical lifetime of a prestellar core.

scholarly journals Photochemistry of Atoms and Molecules in the Adsorbed State

1971 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 432-437
Author(s):  
H. D. Breuer ◽  
H. Moesta
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Interstellar Dust ◽  
Excess Energy ◽  
Collision Probability ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Adsorbed State ◽  
Exothermic Reactions ◽  
Dissociation Energies ◽  
Three Body

Assuming interstellar dust particles being composed at least partly of materials with catalytic activity or of refractory metals and being exposed to the radiation field of the Sun or other stars they can favour the formation of molecules as combinations of the most abundant gases H, C, N and O mainly for three reasons:(1) By the adsorption at the surface of dust particles the collision probability for two or more atoms is greatly enhanced with respect to the gas phase.(2) Because of the adsorption bond the excitation and dissociation energies are shifted to lower values.(3) For highly exothermic reactions dust particles can absorb the excess energy and thus lead to the formation of molecules which in the gas phase can be formed only by three body collisions.

scholarly journals The Transition from Diffuse to Dense Clouds

1992 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore P Snow
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Open Cluster ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Interstellar Clouds ◽  
Dark Clouds ◽  
Diffuse Interstellar Bands ◽  
Cloud Characteristics ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Diffuse Clouds ◽  
The Impact

Optical and ultraviolet spectroscopy have shown that diffuse interstellar clouds can have a wide range of properties, with especially large variations in the nature of the UV extinction curve and the abundances of molecular species. More subtle variations are found in the properties of the diffuse interstellar bands, and there have been suggestions that elemental depletions from the gas phase into solid dust particles also vary significantly. It is the purpose of this paper to review studies of the relatively diffuse interstellar clouds where these variations occur, and to explore the possible relationship between dust properties, as indicated by UV extinction, and other cloud characteristics. The focus is on relatively dense diffuse clouds, which may be viewed as transitional or intermediate between ordinary diffuse clouds and dark clouds, because in principle the greatest amount of information is available for the intermediate clouds, and because they serve as indicators of processes that may occur in the denser molecular clouds. The paper begins with a brief review of some results from the literature on transitional or intermediate clouds, and then provides a summary of some recent results on one particular cloud, in front of the star BD+31 �643, in the small open cluster IC348, which is part of the Perseus II complex of dark clouds and OB associations. The paper concludes with some tentative speculations about the possible status of the transitional clouds, along with a brief mention of the impact of upcoming instrumental developments on research in this area.

Gas-Phase Clustering of NO+ with H2S and H2O

2007 ◽  
Vol 72 (8) ◽  
pp. 1122-1138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Uhlár ◽  
Ivan Černušák
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Bonds ◽  
Water Molecule ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Saddle Points ◽  
Solvent Molecule ◽  
Local Minima ◽  
Additional Water ◽  
Three Body ◽  
Rain Formation ◽  
Stable Structures

The complex NO+·H2S, which is assumed to be an intermediate in acid rain formation, exhibits thermodynamic stability of ∆Hº300 = -76 kJ mol-1, or ∆Gº300 = -47 kJ mol-1. Its further transformation via H-transfer is associated with rather high barriers. One of the conceivable routes to lower the energy of the transition state is the action of additional solvent molecule(s) that can mediate proton transfer. We have studied several NO+·H2S structures with one or two additional water molecule(s) and have found stable structures (local minima), intermediates and saddle points for the three-body NO+·H2S·H2O and four-body NO+·H2S·(H2O)2 clusters. The hydrogen bonds network in the four-body cluster plays a crucial role in its conversion to thionitrous acid.

scholarly journals Surface Reactions in Interstellar Space

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 55-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Herbst
Keyword(s):  
Surface Chemistry ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Condensed Phase ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Surface Reactions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Interstellar Space ◽  
Interstellar Molecules ◽  
Grain Surface

AbstractIt is impossible to explain the abundances of some gas-phase and most condensed-phase interstellar molecules without the use of grain chemistry. Nevertheless, grain-surface chemistry is relatively poorly understood for a variety of reasons. Our current knowledge of this chemistry and its use in interstellar models is discussed along with specific needs for future research.

Validating Soot Models in LES of Turbulent Flames: The Contribution of Soot Subgrid Intermittency Model to The Prediction of Soot Production in an Aero-Engine Model Combustor

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lívia Pereira Tardelli ◽  
Nasser Darabiha ◽  
Denis Veynante ◽  
Benedetta Franzelli
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Reference Model ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Phase Evolution ◽  
Turbulent Flames ◽  
Engine Model ◽  
Aero Engine ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Parametric Studies ◽  
Soot Model

Abstract Predicting soot production in industrial systems using an LES approach represents a great challenge. Besides the complexity in modeling the multi-scale physicochemical soot processes and their interaction with turbulence, the validation of newly developed models is critical under turbulent conditions. This work illustrates the difficulties in evaluating model performances specific to soot prediction in turbulent flames by considering soot production in an aero-engine combustor. It is proven that soot production occurs only for scarce local gaseous conditions. Therefore, to obtain a statistical representation of such rare soot events, massive CPU resources would be required. For this reason, evaluating soot model performances based on parametric studies, i.e., multiple simulations, as classically done for purely gaseous flames, is CPU high-demanding for sooting flames. Then, a new strategy to investigate modeling impact on the solid phase is proposed. It is based on a unique simulation, where the set of equations describing the solid phase are duplicated. One set accounts for the reference model, while the other set is treated with the model under the scope. Assuming neglected solid phase retro-coupling on the gas phase, the soot scalars from both sets experience the same unique temporal and spatial gas phase evolution isolating the soot model effects from the uncertainties on gaseous models and numerical sensitivities. Finally, the strategy capability is proven by investigating the contribution of the soot subgrid intermittency model to the prediction of soot production in the DLR burner.

Qualitative assessment of air pollution in the working area of energy-intensive materials production by nanoscale aerosols with a solid dispersed phase

2021 ◽  
Vol 61 (12) ◽  
pp. 828-832
Author(s):  
Boris N. Filatov ◽  
Natalya I. Latyshevskaya ◽  
Natalya V. Krylova ◽  
Irina K. Gorkina ◽  
Yulya I. Velikorodnaya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Mass Concentration ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Dispersed Phase ◽  
Forced Circulation ◽  
Aluminum Powders ◽  
Nanoscale Particles ◽  
Wide Range

The presence of grinding, mixing, and fractionation of solid components of formulations leads to the formation of aerosols in the air of the working area with a wide range of dispersion of the solid phase - all this characterizes the organization of technological processes for the production of energy-intensive materials. The study aims to give a qualitative assessment of possible air pollution of the working area of energy-intensive materials production by nanoscale aerosols with a solid dispersed phase. The researchers carried out the sampling of the working area air and flushes from solid horizontal surfaces to produce energy-intensive materials. We carried out the sampling by forced circulation of the test air through the absorption devices of Polezhaev. Scientists used Triton TX-114 solution with a mass concentration of 2.0 mg/dm3 as an absorption medium. The researchers performed flushing from surfaces using cloth tampons moistened with Triton TX-114 solution with a mass concentration of 2.0 mg/dm3. We determined the particle sizes in the samples using NanotracULTRA (Microtrac). Scientists found aluminum and nitrocellulose particles with sizes from 36 to 102 nm in the air of the working area and flushes from horizontal surfaces. The study of the fractional composition of RDX and aluminum powders of the ASD-1 brand showed the presence of nanoscale particles in them. Nanoscale dust particles pollute the air of the working area and solid horizontal surfaces at certain stages of the production of energy-intensive materials. There are nanoscale particles in the composition of powders of some standard components of formulations. Flushes from solid horizontal surfaces are an adequate qualitative indicator of the presence of nanoaerosols in the air of the working area.

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