scholarly journals Secondary organic aerosol phase behaviour in chamber photo-oxidation of mixed precursors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Wang ◽  
Aristeidis Voliotis ◽  
Yunqi Shao ◽  
Taomou Zong ◽  
Xiangxinyue Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Inorganic Compounds ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Phase Behaviour ◽  
Particle Phase ◽  
Photo Oxidation ◽  
Physicochemical Processes ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Aerosol Chamber ◽  
Seed Aerosol

Abstract. The phase behaviour of aerosol particles plays a profound role in atmospheric physicochemical processes, influencing their physical and optical properties and further impacting climate and air quality. However, understanding of aerosol phase behaviour is still incomplete, especially that of multicomponent particles which contain inorganic compounds and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from mixed volatile organic compound (VOC) precursors. We report measurements conducted in the Manchester Aerosol Chamber (MAC) to investigate the aerosol rebounding tendency, measured as bounce fraction, as a surrogate of particle phase behaviour during SOA formation from photo-oxidation of biogenic (α-pinene, isoprene) and anthropogenic (o-cresol) VOCs and their binary mixtures on deliquescent ammonium sulphate seed. Aerosol phase behaviour is RH and chemical composition dependent. Liquid (bounce fraction, BF  80 % and non-liquid behaviour (BF > 0.8) at RH 

scholarly journals Phase state of secondary organic aerosol in chamber photo-oxidation of mixed precursors

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 11303-11316
Author(s):  
Yu Wang ◽  
Aristeidis Voliotis ◽  
Yunqi Shao ◽  
Taomou Zong ◽  
Xiangxinyue Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Ammonium Sulfate ◽  
Phase State ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Inorganic Compounds ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Phase Behaviour ◽  
Hygroscopic Growth ◽  
Photo Oxidation ◽  
Aerosol Chamber

Abstract. The phase behaviour of aerosol particles plays a profound role in atmospheric physicochemical processes, influencing their physical and optical properties and further impacting climate and air quality. However, understanding of the aerosol phase state is still incomplete, especially that of multicomponent particles which contain inorganic compounds and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from mixed volatile organic compound (VOC) precursors. We report measurements conducted in the Manchester Aerosol Chamber (MAC) to investigate the aerosol rebounding tendency, measured as the bounce fraction, as a surrogate of the aerosol phase state during SOA formation from photo-oxidation of biogenic (α-pinene and isoprene) and anthropogenic (o-cresol) VOCs and their binary mixtures on deliquescent ammonium sulfate seed. Aerosol phase state is dependent on relative humidity (RH) and chemical composition (key factors determining aerosol water uptake). Liquid (bounce fraction; BF < 0.2) at RH > 80 % and nonliquid behaviour (BF > 0.8) at RH < 30 % were observed, with a liquid-to-nonliquid transition with decreasing RH between 30 % and 80 %. This RH-dependent phase behaviour (RHBF=0.2,0.5,0.8) increased towards a maximum, with an increasing organic–inorganic mass ratio (MRorg/inorg) during SOA formation evolution in all investigated VOC systems. With the use of comparable initial ammonium sulfate seed concentration, the SOA production rate of the VOC systems determines the MRorg/inorg and, consequently, the change in the phase behaviour. Although less important than RH and MRorg/inorg, the SOA composition plays a second-order role, with differences in the liquid-to-nonliquid transition at moderate MRorg/inorg of ∼1 observed between biogenic-only (anthropogenic-free) and anthropogenic-containing VOC systems. Considering the combining role of the RH and chemical composition in aerosol phase state, the BF decreased monotonically with increasing hygroscopic growth factor (GF), and the BF was ∼0 when GF was larger than 1.15. The real atmospheric consequences of our results are that any processes changing ambient RH or MRorg/inorg (aerosol liquid water) will influence their phase state. Where abundant anthropogenic VOCs contribute to SOA, compositional changes in SOA may influence phase behaviour at moderate organic mass fraction (∼50 %) compared with purely biogenic SOA. Further studies are needed on more complex and realistic atmospheric mixtures.

scholarly journals Investigating the use of secondary organic aerosol as seed particles in simulation chamber experiments

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 5917-5929 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Hamilton ◽  
M. Rami Alfarra ◽  
K. P. Wyche ◽  
M. W. Ward ◽  
A. C. Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Oxidation Products ◽  
Ion Cyclotron Resonance ◽  
Photo Oxidation ◽  
Seed Particles ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Seed Aerosol ◽  
Limonene Oxidation

Abstract. The use of β-caryophyllene secondary organic aerosol particles as seeds for smog chamber simulations has been investigated. A series of experiments were carried out in the Manchester photochemical chamber as part of the Aerosol Coupling in the Earth System (ACES) project to study the effect of seed particles on the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from limonene photo-oxidation. Rather than use a conventional seed aerosol containing ammonium sulfate or diesel particles, a method was developed to use in-situ chamber generated seed particles from β-caryophyllene photo-oxidation, which were then diluted to a desired mass loading (in this case 4–13 μg m−3). Limonene was then introduced into the chamber and oxidised, with the formation of SOA seen as a growth in the size of oxidised organic seed particles from 150 to 325 nm mean diameter. The effect of the partitioning of limonene oxidation products onto the seed aerosol was assessed using aerosol mass spectrometry during the experiment and the percentage of m/z 44, an indicator of degree of oxidation, increased from around 5 to 8 %. The hygroscopicity of the aerosol also changed, with the growth factor for 200 nm particles increasing from less than 1.05 to 1.25 at 90 % RH. The detailed chemical composition of the limonene SOA could be extracted from the complex β-caryophyllene matrix using two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. High resolution Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FTICR-MS) was used to determine exact molecular formulae of the seed and the limonene modified aerosol. The average O:C ratio was seen to increase from 0.32 to 0.37 after limonene oxidation products had condensed onto the organic seed.

scholarly journals Chamber investigation of the formation and transformation of secondary organic aerosol in mixtures of biogenic and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristeidis Voliotis ◽  
Mao Du ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
Yunqi Shao ◽  
M. Rami Alfarra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Phase Behaviour ◽  
Ternary Mixtures ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Formation Potential ◽  
Seed Particles ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Initial Reactivity

Abstract. A comprehensive investigation of the photochemical secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation and transformation in mixtures of anthropogenic (o-cresol) and biogenic (α-pinene and isoprene) volatile organic compound (VOC) precursors in the presence of NOx and inorganic seed particles was conducted. Initial iso-reactivity was used to enable direct comparison across systems, adjusting the initial reactivity of the systems towards the assumed dominant oxidant (OH). Comparing experiments conducted in single precursor systems at various initial reactivity levels (referenced to a nominal base case VOC reactivity) and their binary and ternary mixtures, we show that the molecular interactions from the mixing of the precursors can be investigated and discuss limitations in their interpretation. The observed average SOA yields in descending order were found for the α-pinene (32 ± 7 %), α-pinene/o-cresol (28 ± 9 %), α-pinene at ½ initial reactivity (21 ± 5 %), α-pinene/isoprene (16 ± 1 %), α-pinene at ⅓ initial reactivity (15 ± 4 %), o-cresol (13 ± 3 %), α-pinene/o-cresol/isoprene (11 ± 4%), o-cresol at ½ initial reactivity (11 ± 3 %), o-cresol/isoprene (6 ± 2 %) and isoprene systems (0 ± 0 %). We find a clear suppression of the SOA yield from α-pinene when it is mixed with isoprene, whilst the addition of isoprene to o-cresol may enhance the mixture’s SOA formation potential, however, the difference was too small to be unequivocal. The α-pinene/o-cresol system yield appeared to be increased compared to that calculated based on the additivity, whilst in the α-pinene/o-cresol/isoprene system the measured and predicted yield were comparable. However, in mixtures where more than one precursor contributes to the SOA mass it is unclear whether changes in the SOA formation potential are attributable to physical or chemical interactions, since the reference basis for the comparison is complex. Online and offline chemical composition and SOA particle volatility, water uptake and “phase” behaviour measurements that were used to interpret the SOA formation and behaviour are introduced and detailed elsewhere.

scholarly journals Investigating the use of secondary organic aerosol as seed particles in simulation chamber experiments

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 25117-25151
Author(s):  
J. F. Hamilton ◽  
M. Rami Alfarra ◽  
K. P. Wyche ◽  
M. W. Ward ◽  
A. C. Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Oxidation Products ◽  
Ion Cyclotron Resonance ◽  
Photo Oxidation ◽  
Seed Particles ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Seed Aerosol ◽  
Limonene Oxidation

Abstract. The use of β-caryophyllene secondary organic aerosol particles as seeds for smog chamber simulations has been investigated. A series of experiments were carried out in the Manchester photochemical chamber as part of the Aerosol Coupling in the Earth System (ACES) project to study the effect of seed particles on the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from limonene photo-oxidation. Rather than use a conventional seed aerosol containing ammonium sulphate or diesel particles, a method was developed to use in situ chamber generated seed particles from β-caryophyllene photo-oxidation, which were then diluted to a desired mass loading (in this case 4–13 μg m-3). Limonene was then introduced into the chamber and oxidised, with the formation of SOA seen as a growth in the size of oxidised organic seed particles from 150 to 325 nm mean diameter. The effect of the partitioning of limonene oxidation products onto the seed aerosol was assessed using aerosol mass spectrometry during the experiment and the percentage of m/z 44, an indicator of degree of oxidation, increased from around 5 to 8%. The hygroscopicity of the aerosol also changed, with the growth factor for 200 nm particles increasing from less than 1.05 to 1.25 at 90% RH. The detailed chemical composition of the limonene SOA could be extracted from the complex β-caryophyllene matrix using two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. High resolution Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FTICR-MS) was used to determine exact molecular formulae of the seed and the limonene modified aerosol. The average O:C ratio was seen to increase from 0.32 to 0.37 after limonene oxidation products had condensed onto the organic seed.

scholarly journals Aging of secondary organic aerosol from small aromatic VOCs: changes in chemical composition, mass yield, volatility and hygroscopicity

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 31441-31481 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Hildebrandt Ruiz ◽  
A. L. Paciga ◽  
K. Cerully ◽  
A. Nenes ◽  
N. M. Donahue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidation State ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Clear Correlation ◽  
Carbon Oxidation ◽  
Mass Yield ◽  
Initial Formation ◽  
Chemical Aging ◽  
Photo Oxidation ◽  
Volatile Organic

Abstract. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is transformed after its initial formation, but this chemical aging of SOA is poorly understood. Experiments were conducted in the Carnegie Mellon environmental chamber to form and transform SOA from the photo-oxidation of toluene and other small aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of NOx. The effects of chemical aging on organic aerosol (OA) composition, mass yield, volatility and hygroscopicity were explored. Higher exposure to the hydroxyl radical resulted in different OA composition, average carbon oxidation state OSC) and mass yield. The OA oxidation state generally increased during photo-oxidation, and the final OA OS C ranged from −0.29 to 0.45 in the performed experiments. The volatility of OA formed in these different experiments varied by as much as a factor of 30, demonstrating that the OA formed under different oxidizing conditions can have significantly different saturation concentration. There was no clear correlation between hygroscopicity and oxidation state for this relatively hygroscopic SOA.

scholarly journals Emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds and subsequent photochemical production of secondary organic aerosol in mesocosm studies of temperate and tropical plant species

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (23) ◽  
pp. 12781-12801 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. P. Wyche ◽  
A. C. Ryan ◽  
C. N. Hewitt ◽  
M. R. Alfarra ◽  
G. McFiggans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Reaction Chamber ◽  
Oxidation Products ◽  
Photo Oxidation ◽  
Tropical Plant ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Seed Aerosol

Abstract. Silver birch (Betula pendula) and three Southeast Asian tropical plant species (Ficus cyathistipula, Ficus benjamina and Caryota millis) from the pantropical fig and palm genera were grown in a purpose-built and environment-controlled whole-tree chamber. The volatile organic compounds emitted from these trees were characterised and fed into a linked photochemical reaction chamber where they underwent photo-oxidation under a range of controlled conditions (relative humidity or RH ~65–89%, volatile organic compound-to-NOx or VOC / NOx ~3–9 and NOx ~2 ppbV). Both the gas phase and the aerosol phase of the reaction chamber were monitored in detail using a comprehensive suite of on-line and off-line chemical and physical measurement techniques. Silver birch was found to be a high monoterpene and sesquiterpene but low isoprene emitter, and its emissions were observed to produce measurable amounts of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) via both nucleation and condensation onto pre-existing seed aerosol (YSOA 26–39%). In contrast, all three tropical species were found to be high isoprene emitters with trace emissions of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. In tropical plant experiments without seed aerosol there was no measurable SOA nucleation, but aerosol mass was shown to increase when seed aerosol was present. Although principally isoprene emitting, the aerosol mass produced from tropical fig was mostly consistent (i.e. in 78 out of 120 aerosol mass calculations using plausible parameter sets of various precursor specific yields) with condensation of photo-oxidation products of the minor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) co-emitted; no significant aerosol yield from condensation of isoprene oxidation products was required in the interpretations of the experimental results. This finding is in line with previous reports of organic aerosol loadings consistent with production from minor biogenic VOCs co-emitted with isoprene in principally isoprene-emitting landscapes in Southeast Asia. Moreover, in general the amount of aerosol mass produced from the emissions of the principally isoprene-emitting plants was less than would be expected from published single-VOC experiments, if co-emitted species were solely responsible for the final SOA mass. Interpretation of the results obtained from the fig data sets leaves room for a potential role for isoprene in inhibiting SOA formation under certain ambient atmospheric conditions, although instrumental and experimental constraints impose a level of caution in the interpretation of the results. Concomitant gas- and aerosol-phase composition measurements also provide a detailed overview of numerous key oxidation mechanisms at work within the systems studied, and their combined analysis provides insight into the nature of the SOA formed.

scholarly journals Modeling of secondary organic aerosol yields from laboratory chamber data

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (15) ◽  
pp. 5669-5680 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. N. Chan ◽  
A. W. H. Chan ◽  
P. S. Chhabra ◽  
J. D. Surratt ◽  
J. H. Seinfeld
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Model Fitting ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Specific Model ◽  
Oxidation Products ◽  
Basis Set ◽  
Particle Phase ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Seed Aerosol

Abstract. Laboratory chamber data serve as the basis for constraining models of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. Current models fall into three categories: empirical two-product (Odum), product-specific, and volatility basis set. The product-specific and volatility basis set models are applied here to represent laboratory data on the ozonolysis of α-pinene under dry, dark, and low-NOx conditions in the presence of ammonium sulfate seed aerosol. Using five major identified products, the model is fit to the chamber data. From the optimal fitting, SOA oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) and hydrogen-to-carbon (H/C) ratios are modeled. The discrepancy between measured H/C ratios and those based on the oxidation products used in the model fitting suggests the potential importance of particle-phase reactions. Data fitting is also carried out using the volatility basis set, wherein oxidation products are parsed into volatility bins. The product-specific model is most likely hindered by lack of explicit inclusion of particle-phase accretion compounds. While prospects for identification of the majority of SOA products for major volatile organic compounds (VOCs) classes remain promising, for the near future empirical product or volatility basis set models remain the approaches of choice.

scholarly journals Formation and aging of secondary organic aerosol from toluene: changes in chemical composition, volatility, and hygroscopicity

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (14) ◽  
pp. 8301-8313 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Hildebrandt Ruiz ◽  
A. L. Paciga ◽  
K. M. Cerully ◽  
A. Nenes ◽  
N. M. Donahue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidation State ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Clear Correlation ◽  
Carbon Oxidation ◽  
Mass Yield ◽  
Initial Formation ◽  
Chemical Aging ◽  
Photo Oxidation ◽  
Volatile Organic

Abstract. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is transformed after its initial formation, but this chemical aging of SOA is poorly understood. Experiments were conducted in the Carnegie Mellon environmental chamber to form secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from the photo-oxidation of toluene and other small aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of NOx under different oxidizing conditions. The effects of the oxidizing condition on organic aerosol (OA) composition, mass yield, volatility, and hygroscopicity were explored. Higher exposure to the hydroxyl radical resulted in different OA composition, average carbon oxidation state (OSc), and mass yield. The OA oxidation state generally increased during photo-oxidation, and the final OA OSc ranged from −0.29 to 0.16 in the performed experiments. The volatility of OA formed in these different experiments varied by as much as a factor of 30, demonstrating that the OA formed under different oxidizing conditions can have a significantly different saturation concentration. There was no clear correlation between hygroscopicity and oxidation state for this relatively hygroscopic SOA.

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