scholarly journals Novel methods for predicting gas–particle partitioning during the formation of secondary organic aerosol

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (23) ◽  
pp. 13189-13204 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Wania ◽  
Y. D. Lei ◽  
C. Wang ◽  
J. P. D. Abbatt ◽  
K.-U. Goss
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Vapour Pressure ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Prediction Method ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Minor Effect ◽  
Normal Alkanes ◽  
Sorption Data ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

Abstract. Several methods have been presented in the literature to predict an organic chemical's equilibrium partitioning between the water insoluble organic matter (WIOM) component of aerosol and the gas phase, Ki,WIOM, as a function of temperature. They include (i) polyparameter linear free energy relationships calibrated with empirical aerosol sorption data, as well as (ii) the solvation models implemented in SPARC and (iii) the quantum-chemical software COSMOtherm, which predict solvation equilibria from molecular structure alone. We demonstrate that these methods can be used to predict Ki,WIOM for large numbers of individual molecules implicated in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, including those with multiple functional groups. Although very different in their theoretical foundations, these methods give remarkably consistent results for the products of the reaction of normal alkanes with OH, i.e. their partition coefficients Ki,WIOM generally agree within one order of magnitude over a range of more than ten orders of magnitude. This level of agreement is much better than that achieved by different vapour pressure estimation methods that are more commonly used in the SOA community. Also, in contrast to the agreement between vapour pressure estimates, the agreement between the Ki,WIOM estimates does not deteriorate with increasing number of functional groups. Furthermore, these partitioning coefficients Ki,WIOM predicted SOA mass yields in agreement with those measured in chamber experiments of the oxidation of normal alkanes. If a Ki,WIOM prediction method was based on one or more surrogate molecules representing the solvation properties of the mixed OM phase of SOA, the choice of those molecule(s) was found to have a relatively minor effect on the predicted Ki,WIOM, as long as the molecule(s) are not very polar. This suggests that a single surrogate molecule, such as 1-octanol or a hypothetical SOA structure proposed by Kalberer et al. (2004), may often be sufficient to represent the WIOM component of the SOA phase, greatly simplifying the prediction. The presented methods could substitute for vapour-pressure-based methods in studies such as the explicit modelling of SOA formation from single precursor molecules in chamber experiments.

scholarly journals Novel methods for predicting gas-particle partitioning during the formation of secondary organic aerosol

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 21341-21385 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Wania ◽  
Y. D. Lei ◽  
C. Wang ◽  
J. P. D. Abbatt ◽  
K.-U. Goss
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Vapour Pressure ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Basis Sets ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Minor Effect ◽  
Normal Alkanes ◽  
Sorption Data ◽  
Better Than

Abstract. Several methods have been presented in the literature to predict an organic chemical's equilibrium partitioning between the water insoluble organic matter (WIOM) component of aerosol and the gas phase, Ki, WIOM as a function of temperature. They include (i) polyparameter linear free energy relationships calibrated with empirical aerosol sorption data, as well as (ii) the solvation models implemented in SPARC and (iii) the quantum-chemical software Cosmotherm, which predict solvation equilibria from molecular structure alone. We demonstrate that these methods can be used to predict Ki, WIOM for large numbers of individual molecules implicated in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, including those with multiple functional groups. Although very different in their theoretical foundations, these methods give remarkably consistent results for the products of the reaction of normal alkanes with OH, i.e. their partition coefficients Ki, WIOM generally agree within one order of magnitude over a range of more than ten orders of magnitude. This level of agreement is much better than that achieved by different vapour pressure estimation methods that are more commonly used in the SOA community. Also, in contrast to the agreement between vapour pressure estimates, that between the Ki, WIOM estimates does not deteriorate with increasing number of functional groups. Furthermore, these partitioning coefficients Ki, WIOM are found to predict the SOA mass yield in chamber experiments of the oxidation of normal alkanes as good or better than a vapour pressure based method. If a Ki, WIOM prediction method was based on one or more surrogate molecules representing the solvation properties of the mixed OM phase of SOA, the choice of those molecule(s) was found to have a relatively minor effect on the predicted Ki, WIOM, as long as the molecule(s) are not very polar. This suggests that a single surrogate molecule, such as 1-octanol or a hypothetical SOA structure proposed by Kalberer et al. (2004), may often be sufficient to represent the WIOM component of the SOA phase, greatly simplifying the prediction. The presented methods could substitute for vapour pressure based methods in studies such as the explicit modeling of SOA formation from single precursor molecules in chamber experiments or the assignment of SOA-forming molecules to volatility basis sets.

scholarly journals The sensitivity of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) component partitioning to the predictions of component properties – Part 3: Investigation of condensed compounds generated by a near-explicit model of VOC oxidation

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 21055-21090 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Barley ◽  
D. Topping ◽  
D. Lowe ◽  
S. Utembe ◽  
G. McFiggans
Keyword(s):  
Activity Coefficients ◽  
Vapour Pressure ◽  
Molar Mass ◽  
Emission Scenario ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Explicit Model ◽  
Voc Emission ◽  
Aerosol Properties

Abstract. Calculations of the absorptive partitioning of secondary organic aerosol components were carried out using a number of methods to estimate vapour pressure and non-ideality. The sensitivity of predicted condensed component masses, volatility, O:C ratio, molar mass and functionality distribution to the choice of estimation methods was investigated in mixtures of around 2700 compounds generated by a near explicit mechanism of atmospheric VOC degradation. The sensitivities in terms of all metrics were comparable to those previously reported (using 10 000 semi-randomly generated compounds). In addition, the change in predicted aerosol properties and composition with changing VOC emission scenario was investigated showing key dependencies on relative anthropogenic and biogenic contributions. Finally, the contribution of non-ideality to the changing distribution of condensed components was explored in terms of the shift in effective volatility by virtue of component activity coefficients, clearly demonstrating both enhancement and reduction of component masses associated with negative and positive deviations from ideality.

scholarly journals The sensitivity of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) component partitioning to the predictions of component properties – Part 3: Investigation of condensed compounds generated by a near-explicit model of VOC oxidation

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 13145-13159 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Barley ◽  
D. Topping ◽  
D. Lowe ◽  
S. Utembe ◽  
G. McFiggans
Keyword(s):  
Activity Coefficients ◽  
Vapour Pressure ◽  
Molar Mass ◽  
Emission Scenario ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Explicit Model ◽  
Voc Emission ◽  
Aerosol Properties

Abstract. Calculations of the absorptive partitioning of secondary organic aerosol components were carried out using a number of methods to estimate vapour pressure and non-ideality. The sensitivity of predicted condensed component masses, volatility, O:C ratio, molar mass and functionality distribution to the choice of estimation methods was investigated in mixtures of around 2700 compounds generated by a near explicit mechanism of atmospheric VOC degradation. The sensitivities in terms of all metrics were comparable to those previously reported (using 10 000 semi-randomly generated compounds). In addition, the change in predicted aerosol properties and composition with changing VOC emission scenario was investigated showing key dependencies on relative anthropogenic and biogenic contributions. Finally, the contribution of non-ideality to the changing distribution of condensed components was explored in terms of the shift in effective volatility by virtue of component activity coefficients, clearly demonstrating both enhancement and reduction of component masses associated with negative and positive deviations from ideality.

scholarly journals Estimating fusion properties for functionalised acids

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 8385-8394 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Compernolle ◽  
K. Ceulemans ◽  
J.-F. Müller
Keyword(s):  
Vapour Pressure ◽  
Estimation Error ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Fusion Temperature ◽  
Subcooled Liquid ◽  
Fusion Data ◽  
Simple Estimation ◽  
Data Estimation

Abstract. Multicomponent organic aerosol (OA) is likely to be liquid, or partially liquid. Hence, to describe the partitioning of these components, their liquid vapour pressure is desired. Functionalised acids (e.g. diacids) can be a significant part of OA. But often measurements are available only for solid state vapour pressure, which can differ by orders of magnitude from their liquid counterparts. To convert such a sublimation pressure to a subcooled liquid vapour pressure, fusion properties (two out of these three quantities: fusion enthalpy, fusion entropy, fusion temperature) are required. Unfortunately, experimental knowledge of fusion properties is sometimes missing in part or completely, hence an estimation method is required. Several fusion data estimation methods are tested here against experimental data of functionalised acids, and a simple estimation method is developed, specifically for this family of compounds, with a significantly smaller estimation error than the literature methods.

scholarly journals Technical Note: Vapor pressure estimation methods applied to secondary organic aerosol constituents from α-pinene oxidation: an intercomparison study

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 6271-6282 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Compernolle ◽  
K. Ceulemans ◽  
J.-F. Müller
Keyword(s):  
Vapor Pressure ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Vapor Pressures ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Pressure Estimation ◽  
Intercomparison Study

Abstract. We applied and compared seven vapor pressure estimation methods to the condensable compounds generated in the oxidation of α-pinene, as described by the state-of-the-art mechanism of the BOREAM model Capouet et al., 2008. Several of these methods had to be extended in order to treat functional groups such as hydroperoxides and peroxy acyl nitrates. Large differences in the estimated vapor pressures are reported, which will inevitably lead to large differences in aerosol formation simulations. Cautioning remarks are given for some vapor pressure estimation methods.

scholarly journals Impact of NO<sub>x</sub> on secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from <i>α</i>-pinene and <i>β</i>-pinene photo-oxidation: the role of highly oxygenated organic nitrates

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iida Pullinen ◽  
Sebastian Schmitt ◽  
Sungah Kang ◽  
Mehrnaz Sarrafzadeh ◽  
Patrick Schlag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Nitrate ◽  
Organic Nitrates ◽  
Peroxy Radicals ◽  
Photo Oxidation ◽  
Mass Formation

Abstract. The formation of organic nitrates (ON) in the gas phase and their impact on mass formation of Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA) was investigated in a laboratory study for α-pinene and β-pinene photo-oxidation. Focus was the elucidation of those mechanisms that cause the often observed suppression of SOA mass formation by NOx, and therein the role of highly oxygenated multifunctional molecules (HOM). We observed that with increasing NOx (a) the portion of HOM organic nitrates (HOM-ON) increased, (b) the fraction of accretion products (HOM-ACC) decreased and (c) HOM-ACC contained on average smaller carbon numbers. Specifically, we investigated HOM organic nitrates (HOM-ON), arising from the termination reactions of HOM peroxy radicals with NOx, and HOM permutation products (HOM-PP), such as ketones, alcohols or hydroperoxides, formed by other termination reactions. Effective uptake coefficients γeff of HOM on particles were determined. HOM with more than 6 O-atoms efficiently condensed on particles (γeff > 0.5 in average) and for HOM containing more than 8 O-atoms, every collision led to loss. There was no systematic difference in γeff for HOM-ON and HOM-PP arising from the same HOM peroxy radicals. This similarity is attributed to the multifunctional character of the HOM: as functional groups in HOM arising from the same precursor HOM peroxy radical are identical, vapor pressures should not strongly depend on the character the final termination group. As a consequence, the suppressing effect of NOx on SOA formation cannot be simply explained by replacement of terminal functional groups by organic nitrate groups. The fraction of organic bound nitrate (OrgNO3) stored in gas-phase HOM-ON appeared to be substantially higher than the fraction of particulate OrgNO3 observed by aerosol mass spectrometry. This result suggests losses of OrgNO3 for organic nitrates in particles, probably due to hydrolysis of OrgNO3 that releases HNO3 into the gas phase but leaves behind the organic rest in the particulate phase. However, the loss of HNO3 alone, could not explain the observed suppressing effect of NOx on particle mass formation from α-pinene and β-pinene. We therefore attributed most of the reduction in SOA mass yields with increasing NOx to the significant suppression of gas-phase HOM-ACC which have high molecular mass and are potentially important for SOA mass formation at low NOx conditions.

scholarly journals The critical assessment of vapour pressure estimation methods for use in modelling the formation of atmospheric organic aerosol

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 749-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Barley ◽  
G. McFiggans
Keyword(s):  
Vapour Pressure ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Group Contribution Method ◽  
Pressure Data ◽  
Multifunctional Compounds ◽  
Stringent Test ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract. A selection of models for estimating vapour pressures have been tested against experimental data for a set of compounds selected for their particular relevance to the formation of atmospheric aerosol by gas-liquid partitioning. The experimental vapour pressure data (all <100 Pa) of 45 multifunctional compounds provide a stringent test of the estimation techniques, with a recent complex group contribution method providing the best overall results. The effect of errors in vapour pressures upon the formation of organic aerosol by gas-liquid partitioning in an atmospherically relevant example is also investigated. The mass of organic aerosol formed under typical atmospheric conditions was found to be very sensitive to the variation in vapour pressure values typically present when comparing estimation methods.

scholarly journals Comparison of secondary organic aerosol formation from toluene on initially wet and dry ammonium sulfate particles at moderate relative humidity

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 5677-5689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tengyu Liu ◽  
Dan Dan Huang ◽  
Zijun Li ◽  
Qianyun Liu ◽  
ManNin Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Ammonium Sulfate ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Flow Reactor ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Seed Particles ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Wet Particles

Abstract. The formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) has been widely studied in the presence of dry seed particles at low relative humidity (RH). At higher RH, initially dry seed particles can exist as wet particles due to water uptake by the seeds as well as the SOA. Here, we investigated the formation of SOA from the photooxidation of toluene using an oxidation flow reactor in the absence of NOx under a range of OH exposures on initially wet or dry ammonium sulfate (AS) seed particles at an RH of 68 %. The ratio of the SOA yield on wet AS seeds to that on dry AS seeds, the relative SOA yield, decreased from 1.31 ± 0.02 at an OH exposure of 4.66 × 1010 molecules cm−3 s to 1.01 ± 0.01 at an OH exposure of 5.28 × 1011 molecules cm−3 s. This decrease may be due to the early deliquescence of initially dry AS seeds after being coated by highly oxidized toluene-derived SOA. SOA formation lowered the deliquescence RH of AS and resulted in the uptake of water by both AS and SOA. Hence the initially dry AS seeds contained aerosol liquid water (ALW) soon after SOA formed, and the SOA yield and ALW approached those of the initially wet AS seeds as OH exposure and ALW increased, especially at high OH exposure. However, a higher oxidation state of the SOA on initially wet AS seeds than that on dry AS seeds was observed at all levels of OH exposure. The difference in mass fractions of m ∕ z 29, 43 and 44 of SOA mass spectra, obtained using an aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS), indicated that SOA formed on initially wet seeds may be enriched in earlier-generation products containing carbonyl functional groups at low OH exposures and later-generation products containing acidic functional groups at high exposures. Our results suggest that inorganic dry seeds become at least partially deliquesced particles during SOA formation and hence that ALW is inevitably involved in the SOA formation at moderate RH. More laboratory experiments conducted with a wide variety of SOA precursors and inorganic seeds under different NOx and RH conditions are warranted.

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