Adsorption of active trace gases by ensemble of ultrafine porous particles with impermeable cores

Abstract In the present study, we analyze the combined influence of several factors on the rate of atmospheric trace gas adsorption by an ensemble of porous aerosol particles. The factors include the presence of a non-porous non-adsorbing inner core, kinetic effects, non-uniform distribution of concentration of adsorbed gas inside particles, inert admixtures in the atmosphere, radioactive decay, and particle number density. The particles size has the same order of magnitude as a free path length of molecules in air. The evolution of concentration of adsorbed active trace gas in solid porous particles is described by an integral equation, while the evolution of active trace radioactive gas in a gaseous phase is determined by an integro-differential equation. Numerical calculations are performed to investigate the adsorption of different isotopes of Radon and Iodine by porous particles. The comparison of rates of gas adsorption for radioactive isotopes of Iodine with a stable isotope I-127 shows that radioactive decay alters the scenario of the gas adsorption process by porous particles. The accuracy of the developed model of radioactive gas adsorption by porous particles is validated by available experimental data.