scholarly journals Modeling the gas-particle partitioning of secondary organic aerosol: the importance of liquid-liquid phase separation

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 3857-3882 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Zuend ◽  
J. H. Seinfeld
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Liquid Phase Separation ◽  
Organic Loading ◽  
Computational Costs ◽  
Ideal Mixing ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

Abstract. The partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds between the gas phase and aerosol particles is an important source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Gas-particle partitioning of organic and inorganic species is influenced by the physical state and water content of aerosols, and therefore ambient relative humidity (RH), as well as temperature and organic loading levels. We introduce a novel combination of the thermodynamic models AIOMFAC (for liquid mixture non-ideality) and EVAPORATION (for pure compound vapor pressures) with oxidation product information from the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM) for the computation of gas-particle partitioning of organic compounds and water. The presence and impact of a liquid-liquid phase separation in the condensed phase is calculated as a function of variations in relative humidity, organic loading levels, and associated changes in aerosol composition. We show that a complex system of water, ammonium sulfate, and SOA from the ozonolysis of α-pinene exhibits liquid-liquid phase separation over a wide range of relative humidities (simulated from 30% to 99% RH). Since fully coupled phase separation and gas-particle partitioning calculations are computationally expensive, several simplified model approaches are tested with regard to computational costs and accuracy of predictions compared to the benchmark calculation. It is shown that forcing a liquid one-phase aerosol with or without consideration of non-ideal mixing bears the potential for vastly incorrect partitioning predictions. Assuming an ideal mixture leads to substantial overestimation of the particulate organic mass, by more than 100% at RH values of 80% and by more than 200% at RH values of 95%. Moreover, the simplified one-phase cases stress two key points for accurate gas-particle partitioning calculations: (1) non-ideality in the condensed phase needs to be considered and (2) liquid-liquid phase separation is a consequence of considerable deviations from ideal mixing in solutions containing inorganic ions and organics that cannot be ignored. Computationally much more efficient calculations relying on the assumption of a complete organic/electrolyte phase separation below a certain RH successfully reproduce gas-particle partitioning in systems in which the average oxygen-to-carbon (O:C) ratio is lower than ~0.6, as in the case of α-pinene SOA, and bear the potential for implementation in atmospheric chemical transport models and chemistry-climate models. A full equilibrium calculation is the method of choice for accurate offline (box model) computations, where high computational costs are acceptable. Such a calculation enables the most detailed predictions of phase compositions and provides necessary information on whether assuming a complete organic/electrolyte phase separation is a good approximation for a given aerosol system. Based on the group-contribution concept of AIOMFAC and O:C ratios as a proxy for polarity and hygroscopicity of organic mixtures, the results from the α-pinene system are also discussed from a more general point of view.

scholarly journals Modeling the gas-particle partitioning of secondary organic aerosol: the importance of liquid-liquid phase separation

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 2199-2258 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Zuend ◽  
J. H. Seinfeld
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Liquid Phase Separation ◽  
Organic Loading ◽  
Computational Costs ◽  
Ideal Mixing ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

Abstract. The partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds between the gas phase and aerosol particles is an important source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Gas-particle partitioning of organic and inorganic species is influenced by the physical state and water content of aerosols, and therefore ambient relative humidity (RH), as well as temperature and organic loading levels. We introduce a novel combination of the thermodynamic models AIOMFAC (for liquid mixture non-ideality) and EVAPORATION (for pure compound vapor pressures) with oxidation product information from the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM) for the computation of gas-particle partitioning of organic compounds and water. The presence and impact of a liquid-liquid phase separation in the condensed phase is calculated as a function of variations in relative humidity, organic loading levels, and associated changes in aerosol composition. We show that a complex system of water, ammonium sulfate, and SOA from the ozonolysis of α-pinene exhibits liquid-liquid phase separation over a wide range of relative humidities (simulated from 30% to 99% RH). Since fully coupled phase separation and gas-particle partitioning calculations are computationally expensive, different simplified model approaches are tested with regards to computational costs and accuracy of predictions compared to the benchmark calculation. Both forcing a liquid one-phase aerosol considering non-ideal mixing or assuming an ideal mixture bear the potential for vastly incorrect partitioning predictions. Assuming an ideal mixture leads to substantial overestimation of the particulate organic mass, at high RH by more than 200%. Moreover, the simplified one-phase cases stress two key points for accurate gas-particle partitioning calculations: (1) non-ideality in the condensed phase needs to be considered and (2) liquid-liquid phase separation is a consequence of considerable deviations from ideal mixing in solutions containing inorganic ions and organics that cannot be ignored. Computationally much more efficient calculations relying on the assumption of a complete organic/electrolyte phase separation below a certain RH successfully reproduce gas-particle partitioning in systems in which the average oxygen-to-carbon (O:C) ratio is lower than ~0.6, as in the case of α-pinene SOA, and bear the potential for implementation in atmospheric chemical transport models and chemistry-climate models. A full equilibrium calculation is the method of choice for accurate offline (box model) computations, where high computational costs are acceptable. Such a calculation enables the most detailed predictions of phase compositions and provides necessary information on whether assuming a complete organic/electrolyte phase separation is a good approximation for a given aerosol system. Based on the group-contribution concept of AIOMFAC and O:C ratios as a proxy for polarity and hygroscopicity of organic mixtures, the results from the α-pinene system are also discussed from a more general point of view.

Phase separation in organic aerosol

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (24) ◽  
pp. 7694-7705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Arak Freedman
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Liquid Phase Separation ◽  
Climate Effects ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

Liquid–liquid phase separation is prevalent in aerosol particles composed of organic compounds and salts and may impact aerosol climate effects.

scholarly journals Liquid–liquid phase separation in particles containing organics mixed with ammonium sulfate, ammonium bisulfate, ammonium nitrate or sodium chloride

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 11723-11734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. You ◽  
L. Renbaum-Wolff ◽  
A. K. Bertram
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Sodium Chloride ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Ammonium Sulfate ◽  
Inorganic Salt ◽  
Liquid Phase Separation ◽  
Inorganic Salts ◽  
Organic Species ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

Abstract. As the relative humidity varies from high to low values in the atmosphere, particles containing organic species and inorganic salts may undergo liquid–liquid phase separation. The majority of the laboratory work on this subject has used ammonium sulfate as the inorganic salt. In the following we studied liquid–liquid phase separation in particles containing organics mixed with the following salts: ammonium sulfate, ammonium bisulfate, ammonium nitrate and sodium chloride. In each experiment one organic was mixed with one inorganic salt and the liquid–liquid phase separation relative humidity (SRH) was determined. Since we studied 23 different organics mixed with four different salts, a total of 92 different particle types were investigated. Out of the 92 types, 49 underwent liquid–liquid phase separation. For all the inorganic salts, liquid–liquid phase separation was never observed when the oxygen-to-carbon elemental ratio (O : C) &amp;geq; 0.8 and was always observed for O : C < 0.5. For 0.5 &amp;leq; O : C < 0.8, the results depended on the salt type. Out of the 23 organic species investigated, the SRH of 20 organics followed the trend: (NH4)2SO4 &amp;geq; NH4HSO4 &amp;geq; NaCl &amp;geq; NH4NO3. This trend is consistent with previous salting out studies and the Hofmeister series. Based on the range of O : C values found in the atmosphere and the current results, liquid–liquid phase separation is likely a frequent occurrence in both marine and non-marine environments.

scholarly journals Liquid-liquid phase separation and viscosity within secondary organic aerosol generated from diesel fuel vapors

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mijung Song ◽  
Adrian M. Maclean ◽  
Yuanzhou Huang ◽  
Natalie R. Smith ◽  
Sandra L. Blair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Diesel Fuel ◽  
Diffusion Coefficients ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Liquid Phase Separation ◽  
Small Diffusion ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

Abstract. Information on liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and viscosity (or diffusion) within secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is needed to improve predictions of particle size, mass, reactivity, and cloud nucleating properties in the atmosphere. Here we report on LLPS and viscosities within SOA generated by the photooxidation of diesel fuel vapors. Diesel fuel contains a wide range of volatile organic compounds, and SOA generated by the photooxidation of diesel fuel vapors may be a good proxy for SOA from anthropogenic emissions. In our experiments, LLPS occurred over the relative humidity (RH) range of ~ 70 % to ~ 100 %, resulting in an organic-rich outer phase and a water-rich inner phase. These results may have implications for predicting the cloud nucleating properties of anthropogenic SOA since the organic-rich outer phase can lower the kinetic barrier for activation to a cloud droplet. At &amp;leq; 10 % RH, the viscosity was in the range of &amp;geq; 1 × 108 Pa s, which corresponds to roughly the viscosity of tar pitch. At 38–50 % RH the viscosity was in the range of 1 × 108–3 × 105 Pa s. These measured viscosities are consistent with predictions based on oxygen to carbon elemental ratio (O : C) and molar mass as well as predictions based on the number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Based on the measured viscosities and the Stokes–Einstein relation, at &amp;leq; 10 % RH diffusion coefficients of organics within diesel fuel SOA is &amp;leq; 5.4 × 10−17cm2 s−1 and the mixing time of organics within 200 nm diesel fuel SOA particles (τmixing) is &amp;gtrsim; 50 h. These small diffusion coefficients and large mixing times may be important in laboratory experiments, where SOA is often generated and studied using low RH conditions and on time scales of minutes to hours. At 38–50 % RH, the calculated organic diffusion coefficients are in the range of 5.4 × 10−17 to 1.8 × 10−13 cm2 s−1 and calculated τmixing values are in the range of ~ 0.01 h to ~ 50 h. These values provide important constraints for the physicochemical properties of anthropogenic SOA.

scholarly journals Liquid–liquid phase separation and viscosity within secondary organic aerosol generated from diesel fuel vapors

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (19) ◽  
pp. 12515-12529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mijung Song ◽  
Adrian M. Maclean ◽  
Yuanzhou Huang ◽  
Natalie R. Smith ◽  
Sandra L. Blair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Diesel Fuel ◽  
Diffusion Coefficients ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Liquid Phase Separation ◽  
Small Diffusion ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

Abstract. Information on liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) and viscosity (or diffusion) within secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is needed to improve predictions of particle size, mass, reactivity, and cloud nucleating properties in the atmosphere. Here we report on LLPS and viscosities within SOA generated by the photooxidation of diesel fuel vapors. Diesel fuel contains a wide range of volatile organic compounds, and SOA generated by the photooxidation of diesel fuel vapors may be a good proxy for SOA from anthropogenic emissions. In our experiments, LLPS occurred over the relative humidity (RH) range of ∼70 % to ∼100 %, resulting in an organic-rich outer phase and a water-rich inner phase. These results may have implications for predicting the cloud nucleating properties of anthropogenic SOA since the presence of an organic-rich outer phase at high-RH values can lower the supersaturation with respect to water required for cloud droplet formation. At ≤10 % RH, the viscosity was ≥1×108 Pa s, which corresponds to roughly the viscosity of tar pitch. At 38 %–50 % RH, the viscosity was in the range of 1×108 to 3×105 Pa s. These measured viscosities are consistent with predictions based on oxygen to carbon elemental ratio (O:C) and molar mass as well as predictions based on the number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Based on the measured viscosities and the Stokes–Einstein relation, at ≤10 % RH diffusion coefficients of organics within diesel fuel SOA is ≤5.4×10-17 cm2 s−1 and the mixing time of organics within 200 nm diesel fuel SOA particles (τmixing) is 50 h. These small diffusion coefficients and large mixing times may be important in laboratory experiments, where SOA is often generated and studied using low-RH conditions and on timescales of minutes to hours. At 38 %–50 % RH, the calculated organic diffusion coefficients are in the range of 5.4×10-17 to 1.8×10-13 cm2 s−1 and calculated τmixing values are in the range of ∼0.01 h to ∼50 h. These values provide important constraints for the physicochemical properties of anthropogenic SOA.

scholarly journals Viscosity and liquid–liquid phase separation in healthy and stressed plant SOA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie R. Smith ◽  
Giuseppe V. Crescenzo ◽  
Yuanzhou Huang ◽  
Anusha P. S. Hettiyadura ◽  
Kyla Siemens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Phase State ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Pine Trees ◽  
Stressed Plant ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

Molecular composition, viscosity, and phase state were investigated for secondary organic aerosol derived from synthetic mixtures of volatile organic compounds representing emissions from healthy and aphid-stressed Scots pine trees.

scholarly journals Effects of molecular weight and temperature on liquid–liquid phase separation in particles containing organic species and ammonium sulfate

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 23341-23373
Author(s):  
Y. You ◽  
A. K. Bertram
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Ammonium Sulfate ◽  
Atmospheric Particles ◽  
Liquid Phase Separation ◽  
Organic Species ◽  
Measured Liquid ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

Abstract. Atmospheric particles containing organic species and inorganic salts may undergo liquid–liquid phase separation when the relative humidity varies between high and low values. To better understand the parameters that affect liquid–liquid phase separation in atmospheric particles, we studied the effects of molecular weight and temperature on liquid–liquid phase separation in particles containing one organic species mixed with ammonium sulfate. In the molecular weight dependent studies, we measured liquid–liquid phase separation relative humidity (SRH) in particles containing ammonium sulfate and organic species with large molecular weights (up to 1153 Da). These results were combined with recent studies of liquid–liquid phase separation in the literature to assess if molecular weight is a useful parameter for predicting SRH. The combined results, which include results from 33 different particle types, illustrate that SRH does not depend strongly on molecular weight (i.e. a clear relationship between molecular weight and SRH was not observed). In the temperature dependent studies, we measured liquid–liquid phase separation in 20 particle types at 244 ± 1 K, 263 ± 1 K, and 278 ± 1 K, as well as 290 ± 1 K for a few of these particle types. These new results were combined with previous measurements of the same particle types at 290 ± 1 K. The combined SRH data illustrate that for the particle types studied the SRH does not depend strongly on temperature. At most the SRH varied by 9.7% as the temperature varied from 290 to 244 K. In addition, for all the particle types studied and at all the temperatures studied, liquid–liquid phase separation was always observed when the O : C < 0.57, frequently observed when 0.57 ≤ O : C < 0.8, and never observed when O : C ≥ 0.8. These combined results suggest that liquid–liquid phase separation is likely a common occurrence in the atmospheric particles at temperatures from 244–290 K. Additional studies at temperatures < 244 K and with other organic species are still needed.

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