Production of Hydroxyl Radicals in the Dark

Oxidation is prevalent in atmospheric chemistry due to the abundance of oxidants in the atmosphere. One of the commonly found oxidants is hydroxyl (OH) radical. Previously, OH radicals have been generated by means of UV photolysis, but the concurrent presence of photolysis and oxidation makes it challenging to pinpoint the exact mechanism behind the reactions occurring in the environmental chamber. Thus, a method for the production of OH radicals in a dark environment would be highly beneficial for decoupling the OH radical initiated-oxidation chemistry from photolysis. A method involving the ozonolysis of 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene (tetramethylethylene, TME) has been proposed by researchers from Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies in Carnegie Mellon University. We further investigated the feasibility of TME ozonolysis as a dependable source of OH radicals in a dark environment. Using the TME + O3 method, we estimated the produced OH concentrations to be approximately 107~108 molecules cm-3.Chemical Engineerin

Book review: urban neighborhoods in a new era: revitalization politics in the postindustrial city edited by Clarence N. Stone and Robert P. Stoker

In the edited collection Urban Neighborhoods in a New Era: Revitalization Politics in the Postindustrial City, Clarence N. Stone and Robert P. Stoker investigate how North American cities have developed neighbourhood-level policies aimed at challenging urban deprivation through case studies of cities including Baltimore, Chicago and Los Angeles. Although the book does not fully tackle the root causes of structural inequality, it does offer clear proposals that predict a positive future for deprived urban communities, writes Do Young Oh

Book review: urban revolution now: Henri Lefebvre in social research and architecture

More than half of the world’s population now live in cities – but how has this transformation in how we live occurred? Urban Revolution Now: Henri Lefebvre in Social Research and Architecture uses the work of Lefebvre to critically understand the process of urbanisation and to offer practical answers to the problems facing urbanised society. Do Young Oh praises the book’s collection of case studies as being useful for showing how Lefebvrian ideas can be used for research and practice across the disciplines of the social sciences