Articles | Volume 18, issue 23
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-7221-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-7221-2025
Research article
 | 
02 Dec 2025
Research article |  | 02 Dec 2025

High-purity nitrous acid (HONO) generation and quantification using broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (BBCEAS)

Alexis P. Harper, Callum E. Flowerday, Zachary Giauque, Kaitlyn Brewster, Ryan Thalman, and Jaron C. Hansen

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Cited articles

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Bottorff, B., Reidy, E., Mielke, L., Dusanter, S., and Stevens, P. S.: Development of a laser-photofragmentation laser-induced fluorescence instrument for the detection of nitrous acid and hydroxyl radicals in the atmosphere, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 6039–6056, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6039-2021, 2021. 
Braman, R. S. and De la Cantera, M. A.: Sublimation sources for nitrous acid and other nitrogen compounds in air, Anal. Chem., 58, 1533–1537, https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00298a059, 1986. 
Burkholder, J. B., Sander, S. P., Abbatt, J. P. D., Barker, J. R., Cappa, C., Crounse, J. D., Dibble, T. S., Huie, R. E., Kolb, C. E., Kurylo, M. J., Orkin, V. L., Percival, C. J., Wilmouth, D. M., and Wine, P. H.: Chemical kinetics and photochemical data for use in atmospheric studies, evaluation number 19, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, NASA JPL Publication 19-5, https://jpldataeval.jpl.nasa.gov/pdf/NASA-JPL Evaluation%2019-5.pdf (last access: 26 November 2025), 2020. 
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Short summary
In this study, we developed a new way to produce and measure nitrous acid, an important atmospheric gas that can be difficult to synthesize. By carefully controlling temperatures and reaction conditions, we created high-purity (<96 %) samples and showed how they can be stored and released when needed. This advance makes it easier to study how nitrous acid contributes to air pollution and atmospheric interactions, while also improving tools for laboratory experiments and instrument testing.
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