One conceivable mechanism of UV-light induced SO₂ Oxidation to H₂SO₄

Abstract. The electron-excited chemistry of sulfur dioxide oxidation induced by UV irradiation of air with trace O₃ and SO₂ is considered. The importance of this mechanism is evaluated based on recent laboratory experiments on SO₂ oxidation in a laminar tube with air induced by UV irradiation. Results show that under respective conditions the route of SO₂ oxidation involving electron excited oxygen molecules may present an additional source of gaseous H₂SO₄ production to known OH-radical mechanism.