ICARE-SC: description and transnational access

1. Introduction

The Atmospheric Reactivity Group of ICARE (CNRS-Orléans) has two medium sized chambers (7300 and 3400 l) and two small ones (about 200-300 l). These facilities are all dedicated to the investigation of the atmospheric chemical processes under realistic conditions. They are routinely used for kinetic measurements and product analysis of atmospheric processes using different analytical techniques. In the recent years, the experiments conducted with these chambers were focused on the atmospheric fate of biogenic and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (gas phase processes and secondary organic aerosol, SOA, formation yields and chemical composition). The chambers were also used for the instrumentation intercomparison campaigns. These chambers are also designed to investigate the efficiency of photocatalytic materials used for air pollution reduction in the urban environment (glass, bitumen, ...).

To allow a fine comprehension of chemical transformation/evolution of wide range of chemical species, the chamber is equipped with state-of-the art analytical park including specific monitors and instruments based on spectroscopic and chromatographic methods.

ICARE smog chambers are part of the Transnational Access of Euochamp-2.

2. Description of the research facility

2.1. Technical Data

2.1.1. Indoor 7300 l chamber

This medium sized chamber has a parallelepipedic shape and a volume of 7300 l (Figure 1). It is made of fluorene-ethene-propene (FEP) foil. The chamber is equipped with a wide range of analytical instrumentation and techniques to derive kinetic and mechanistic information. For photooxidation experiments, the gas mixture can be irradiated by UV-Vis lamps (centred on 254 nm and 365 nm and ORSAM ULTRA-VITALUX). A multi-reflection White type mirrors system is mounted inside the reactor and interfaced to an FT-IR spectrometer (Nicolet Magna 5700), which allows in situ monitoring of reactants and oxidation products in the ppm-ppb range (Figure 2). Analyses are also accomplished using different types of gas chromatographs equipped with, photo ionisation detector (PID) and mass spectrometry (ATD-GC-MS PerkinElmer Clarus 600) at ppb level measurement. A number of atmospheric key species are analyzed using specific monitors in the ppt-ppb range (e.g. O₃ (HORIBA, APOA-360 and 370), NOx (HORIBA, APNA-360 and Thermo Environment 42i TL), HONO (LOPAP, QUMA-O3) and HCHO (Aerolaser AL 4021)). The chamber is also equipped with instrumentation for particle analysis. Particles size distributions can be measured by a SMPS (TSI3080/CPC3022A). Particles can be also collected on filters and then analysed by different techniques including GC-MS, HPLC (UV and fluorimetric detections) and ionic chromatography (Figure 3). The chamber can be combined with an aerosol flow reactor for particle specific production. Intercomparison campaigns can easily be carried out with this facility.

2.1.2. Outdoor 3400 l chamber

The ICARE sunlight irradiated Atmospheric Simulation Chamber, made of 200µm ETFE film, has a cubic shape, and a volume of 3400 liters (Figure 4). The facility is equipped with a J(NO2) radiometer (Meteorologie Consult gmbh) and temperature/relative humidity sensors. A fan positioned inside the chamber permits to obtain a homogeneous mixing in less than 2 minutes. Gas phase analysis of the gas mixtures can be accomplished using specific monitors for inorganic species (NOx, O3, HONO, HCHO). VOCs are analysed with gas chromatograph coupled with photoionisation detector (GC-PID), and can be also collected on cartridges and then further analysed by ATD-GC-MS PerkinElmer Clarus 600, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC, UV and fluorimetric detections) and Ion Chromatography (IC). Particle physical properties are also examined: the particles size distribution can be measured by a SMPS (TSI3080/CPC3022A). Particles can be collected on filters and analyzed by different techniques such as IC and HPLC.

The chamber can be covered by a black and opaque cloth in order to protect the chamber from light radiation when needed. This cloth can be easily removed in less than 10 seconds to expose the chamber to sunlight irradiation.

2.1.3. Indoor 275 l chamber

The 275 L indoor Atmospheric Simulation Chamber made of Teflon has a cubic shape. It is equipped with a number of inlets and outlets for the gas injection (air, NO-NO₂, O₃, ...) and analysis (NO-NO₂, O₃, ...). The chamber is placed in a box with internal faces covered with aluminium and equipped with a ventilation system which allows homogenization of the internal temperature. An ULTRA-VITALUX 300W (OSRAM) is used to simulate solar radiations (Figure 5).

2.1.4. Indoor 200 l chamber

The experimental set-up consists of a 200 L FEP Teflon chamber surrounded by six germicide lamps (Sylvania G30W) and six black lamps (Philips, TL 20W/05). The bag is suspended in a wooden box with internal faces covered by aluminium foil. Reactants are introduced in the chamber by streaming purified air through a calibrated glass bulb. Gas phase chemical composition can be monitored at any time over the course of the reaction using to the analytical equipment connected to the chamber: Gas Chromatography coupled to a Flame Ionisation Detector (GC-FID, Star 3800 CX, Varian), a Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass spectrometry (GC-MS, Saturn 2000, Varian) and a Infra Red Spectrometer (MAGNA-IR 550, series II) for measurement at ppm level.

2.2. Images

2.3. Publications

A detailed list of publications is provided here.

2.4. Access to the chamber under Eurochamp TA

Access to the ICARE chambers is provided through Eurochamp-2 Transnational Access and other collaborations. Please contact us for more information about the use of our chambers.

The ICARE Chambers are equipped a wide range of modern analytical instrumentation and techniques (the list can be found here). There are also possibilities to host instrumentations from partners (for tests, intercalibration). Modifications can be made to the chambers if requested to host the visiting analytical tools.

3. Institution in charge of the laboratory facility

ICARE-CNRS (Orléans) is partner 6 in Eurochamp-2.

3.1. Contact Information

 Wahid Mellouki, phone: (00)33238257612

 Véronique Daële, phone: (00)33238255494

4. Additional Information

http://era-orleans.org/ERA-TOOLS/index.php?accueil
http://era-orleans.org/eradb/index.php