scholarly journals Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from Acetylene (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub>): seed effect on SOA yields due to organic photochemistry in the aerosol aqueous phase

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1907-1928 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Volkamer ◽  
P. J. Ziemann ◽  
M. J. Molina
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Phase ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Liquid Water Content ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Cloud Droplets ◽  
Experimental Conditions

Abstract. The lightest Non Methane HydroCarbon (NMHC), i.e., acetylene (C2H2) is found to form secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Contrary to current belief, the number of carbon atoms, n, for a NMHC to act as SOA precursor is lowered to n=2 here. The OH-radical initiated oxidation of C2H2 forms glyoxal (CHOCHO) as the highest yield product, and >99% of the SOA from C2H2 is attributed to CHOCHO. SOA formation from C2H2 and CHOCHO was studied in a photochemical and a dark simulation chamber. Further, the experimental conditions were varied with respect to the chemical composition of the seed aerosols, mild acidification with sulphuric acid (SA, 3<pH<4), and relative humidity (10<RH<90%). The rate of SOA formation is found enhanced by several orders of magnitude in the photochemical system. The SOA yields (YSOA) ranged from 1% to 24% and did not correlate with the organic mass portion of the seed, but increased linearly with liquid water content (LWC) of the seed. For fixed LWC, YSOA varied by more than a factor of five. Water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) photochemistry in the liquid water associated with internally mixed inorganic/WSOC seed aerosols is found responsible for this seed effect. WSOC photochemistry enhances the SOA source from CHOCHO, while seeds containing amino acids (AA) and/or SA showed among the lowest of all YSOA values, and largely suppress the photochemical enhancement on the rate of CHOCHO uptake. Our results give first evidence for the importance of heterogeneous photochemistry of CHOCHO in SOA formation, and identify a potential bias in the currently available YSOA data for other SOA precursor NMHCs. We demonstrate that SOA formation via the aqueous phase is not limited to cloud droplets, but proceeds also in the absence of clouds, i.e., does not stop once a cloud droplet evaporates. Atmospheric models need to be expanded to include SOA formation from WSOC photochemistry of CHOCHO, and possibly other α-dicarbonyls, in aqueous aerosols.

scholarly journals Secondary organic aerosol formation from acetylene (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub>): seed effect on SOA yields due to organic photochemistry in the aerosol aqueous phase

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 14841-14892 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Volkamer ◽  
P. J. Ziemann ◽  
M. J. Molina
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Phase ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Liquid Water Content ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Cloud Droplets ◽  
Experimental Conditions

Abstract. The lightest Non Methane HydroCarbon (NMHC), i.e. acetylene (C2H2) is found to form secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Contrary to current belief, the number of carbon atoms, n, for a NMHC to act as SOA precursor is lowered to n=2 here. The OH-radical initiated oxidation of C2H2 forms glyoxal (CHOCHO) as the highest yield product, and >99% of the SOA from C2H2 is attributed to CHOCHO. SOA formation from C2H2 and CHOCHO was studied in a photochemical and a dark simulation chamber. Further, the experimental conditions were varied with respect to the chemical composition of the seed aerosol, mild acidification with sulphuric acid (SA, 3<pH<4), and relative humidity (10<RH<90%). The rate of SOA formation is found enhanced by several orders of magnitude in the photochemical system. The SOA yields (YSOA) ranged from 1% to 20% and did not correlate with the organic mass portion of the seed, but increased linearly with liquid water content (LWC) of the seed. For fixed LWC, YSOA varied by more than a factor of five. Water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) photochemistry in the liquid water associated with internally mixed inorganic/WSOC seed aerosols is found responsible for this seed effect. WSOC photochemistry enhances the SOA source from CHOCHO, while seeds containing amino acids (AA) and/or SA showed among the lowest of all YSOA values, and largely suppress the photochemical enhancement on the rate of CHOCHO uptake. Our results give first evidence for the importance of heterogeneous photochemistry of CHOCHO in SOA formation, and identify a potential bias in the currently available YSOA data for other SOA precursor NMHCs. We demonstrate that SOA formation via the aqueous phase is not limited to cloud droplets, but proceeds also in the absence of clouds, i.e. does not stop once a cloud droplet evaporates. Atmospheric models need to be expanded to include SOA formation from WSOC photochemistry of CHOCHO, and possibly other α-dicarbonyls, in aqueous aerosols.

scholarly journals Secondary organic aerosol formation from photooxidation of furan: effects of NOx and humidity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaotong Jiang ◽  
Narcisse T. Tsona ◽  
Long Jia ◽  
Shijie Liu ◽  
Hailiang Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ultrafine Particles ◽  
Mass Concentration ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Liquid Water Content ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract. Atmospheric furan is a primary and secondary pollutant in the atmosphere, and its emission contributes to the formation of ultrafine particles and ground-level ozone. We investigate the effects of NOx level and humidity on the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) generated from the photooxidation of furan in the presence of NaCl seed particles. The particle mass concentration and size distribution were determined with a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). SOA mass concentration and yield were determined under different NOx and humidity levels. A significant difference is observed both in the SOA mass concentration and SOA yield variation with the initial experimental conditions. Six organic products were identified in the collected SOA by electrospray ionization exactive orbitrap mass spectrometry (ESI-Exactive-Orbitrap MS). The –COOH, –OH, –C=O and NO2 functional groups were assigned in the FTIR spectra and used as the indicator for the mechanism inference. In addition, O3 formation was also observed during the furan-NOx-NaCl photooxidation. Based on the MS analysis, the reaction mechanism was proposed to follow the RO2+NO pathway. A significant amount of carbonyl-rich products was detected in the SOA products from the photooxidation of furan. The SOA mass concentration and yield increase with increasing humidity, because higher aerosol liquid water content brings more aqueous phase reactions. The present study demonstrates the effect of NOx and humidity on SOA formation during the furan-NOx-NaCl photooxidation. Furthermore, the results illustrate the importance of studying SOA formation over a comprehensive range of environmental conditions. Only such evaluations can induce meaningful SOA mechanisms to be implemented in air quality models.

scholarly journals Secondary organic aerosol formation from isoprene photooxidation during cloud condensation–evaporation cycles

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 1747-1760 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Brégonzio-Rozier ◽  
C. Giorio ◽  
F. Siekmann ◽  
E. Pangui ◽  
S. B. Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Phase ◽  
Mass Concentration ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Multiphase Systems ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Water Cloud ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The impact of cloud events on isoprene secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation has been studied from an isoprene ∕ NOx ∕ light system in an atmospheric simulation chamber. It was shown that the presence of a liquid water cloud leads to a faster and higher SOA formation than under dry conditions. When a cloud is generated early in the photooxidation reaction, before any SOA formation has occurred, a fast SOA formation is observed with mass yields ranging from 0.002 to 0.004. These yields are 2 and 4 times higher than those observed under dry conditions. When the cloud is generated at a later photooxidation stage, after isoprene SOA is stabilized at its maximum mass concentration, a rapid increase (by a factor of 2 or higher) of the SOA mass concentration is observed. The SOA chemical composition is influenced by cloud generation: the additional SOA formed during cloud events is composed of both organics and nitrate containing species. This SOA formation can be linked to the dissolution of water soluble volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the aqueous phase and to further aqueous phase reactions. Cloud-induced SOA formation is experimentally demonstrated in this study, thus highlighting the importance of aqueous multiphase systems in atmospheric SOA formation estimations.

scholarly journals Characterization of aerosol and cloud water at a mountain site during WACS 2010: secondary organic aerosol formation through oxidative cloud processing

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 6019-6047 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Y. Lee ◽  
K. L. Hayden ◽  
P. Herckes ◽  
W. R. Leaitch ◽  
J. Liggio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Phase ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Cloud Water ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Photochemical Oxidation ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Dissolved Organics ◽  
Organic Spectra

Abstract. The water-soluble fractions of aerosol samples and cloud water collected during Whistler Aerosol and Cloud Study (WACS 2010) were analyzed using an Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). This is the first study to report AMS organic spectra of re-aerosolized cloud water, and to make direct comparison between the AMS spectra of cloud water and aerosol samples collected at the same location. In general, the aerosol and cloud organic spectra were very similar, indicating that the cloud water organics likely originated from secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed nearby. By using a photochemical reactor to oxidize both aerosol filter extracts and cloud water, we find evidence that fragmentation of aerosol water-soluble organics increases their volatility during oxidation. By contrast, enhancement of AMS-measurable organic mass by up to 30% was observed during aqueous-phase photochemical oxidation of cloud water organics. We propose that additional SOA material was produced by functionalizing dissolved organics via OH oxidation, where these dissolved organics are sufficiently volatile that they are not usually part of the aerosol. This work points out that water-soluble organic compounds of intermediate volatility (IVOC), such as cis-pinonic acid, produced via gas-phase oxidation of monoterpenes, can be important aqueous-phase SOA precursors in a biogenic-rich environment.

scholarly journals Glyoxal processing outside clouds: towards a kinetic modeling framework of secondary organic aerosol formation in aqueous particles

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 12371-12431 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Ervens ◽  
R. Volkamer
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Phase ◽  
Rate Constants ◽  
Surface Composition ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Particle Surface ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Kinetics Of

Abstract. This study presents a modeling framework based on laboratory data to describe the kinetics of glyoxal reactions in aqueous aerosol particles that form secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Recent laboratory results on glyoxal reactions are reviewed and a consistent set of reaction rate constants is derived that captures the kinetics of glyoxal hydration and subsequent reversible and irreversible reactions in aqueous inorganic and water-soluble organic aerosol seeds to form (a) oligomers, (b) nitrogen-containing products, (c) photochemical oxidation products with high molecular weight. These additional aqueous phase processes enhance the SOA formation rate in particles compared to cloud droplets and yield two to three orders of magnitude more SOA than predicted based on reaction schemes for dilute aqueous phase (cloud) chemistry. The application of this new module in a chemical box model demonstrates that both the time scale to reach aqueous phase equilibria and the choice of rate constants of irreversible reactions have a pronounced effect on the atmospheric relevance of SOA formation from glyoxal. During day time a photochemical (most likely radical-initiated) process is the major SOA formation pathway forming ~5 μg m−3 SOA over 12 h (assuming a constant glyoxal mixing ratio of 300 ppt). During night time, reactions of nitrogen-containing compounds (ammonium, amines, amino acids) contribute most to the predicted SOA mass; however, the absolute predicted SOA masses are reduced by an order of magnitude as compared to day time production. The contribution of the ammonium reaction significantly increases in moderately acidic or neutral particles (5<pH<7). Reversible glyoxal oligomerization, parameterized by an equilibrium constant Kolig=1000 (in ammonium sulfate solution), contributes <1% to total predicted SOA masses at any time. Sensitivity tests reveal five parameters that strongly affect the predicted SOA mass from glyoxal: (1) time scales to reach equilibrium states (as opposed to assuming instantaneous equilibrium), (2) particle pH, (3) chemical composition of the bulk aerosol, (4) particle surface composition, and (5) particle liquid water content that is mostly determined by the amount and hygroscopicity of aerosol mass and to a lesser extent by the ambient relative humidity. Glyoxal serves as an example molecule, and the conclusions about SOA formation in aqueous particles can serve for comparative studies also of other molecules that form SOA as the result of multiphase chemical processing in aerosol water. This SOA source is currently underrepresented in atmospheric models; if included it is likely to bring SOA predictions (mass and O/C ratio) into better agreement with field observations.

scholarly journals Secondary Organic Aerosol formation from isoprene photooxidation during cloud condensation–evaporation cycles

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (14) ◽  
pp. 20561-20596 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Brégonzio-Rozier ◽  
C. Giorio ◽  
F. Siekmann ◽  
E. Pangui ◽  
S. B. Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Phase ◽  
Mass Concentration ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Multiphase Systems ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Water Cloud ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The impact of cloud events on isoprene secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation has been studied from an isoprene/NOx/light system in an atmospheric simulation chamber. It was shown that the presence of a liquid water cloud leads to a faster and higher SOA formation than under dry conditions. When a cloud is generated early in the photooxidation reaction, before any SOA formation has occurred, a fast SOA formation is observed with mass yields ranging from 0.002 to 0.004. These yields are two and four times higher than those observed under dry conditions. When the cloud is generated at a later photooxidation stage, after isoprene SOA is stabilized at its maximum mass concentration, a rapid increase (by a factor of two or higher) of the SOA mass concentration is observed. The SOA chemical composition is influenced by cloud generation: the additional SOA formed during cloud events is composed of both organics and nitrate containing species. This SOA formation can be linked to water soluble volatile organic compounds (VOCs) dissolution in the aqueous phase and to further aqueous phase reactions. Cloud-induced SOA formation is experimentally demonstrated in this study, thus highlighting the importance of aqueous multiphase systems in atmospheric SOA formation estimations.

scholarly journals Glyoxal processing by aerosol multiphase chemistry: towards a kinetic modeling framework of secondary organic aerosol formation in aqueous particles

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. 8219-8244 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Ervens ◽  
R. Volkamer
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Ammonium Sulfate ◽  
Aqueous Phase ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Rate Constants ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Liquid Water Content ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Kinetics Of

Abstract. This study presents a modeling framework based on laboratory data to describe the kinetics of glyoxal reactions that form secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in aqueous aerosol particles. Recent laboratory results on glyoxal reactions are reviewed and a consistent set of empirical reaction rate constants is derived that captures the kinetics of glyoxal hydration and subsequent reversible and irreversible reactions in aqueous inorganic and water-soluble organic aerosol seeds. Products of these processes include (a) oligomers, (b) nitrogen-containing products, (c) photochemical oxidation products with high molecular weight. These additional aqueous phase processes enhance the SOA formation rate in particles and yield two to three orders of magnitude more SOA than predicted based on reaction schemes for dilute aqueous phase (cloud) chemistry for the same conditions (liquid water content, particle size). The application of the new module including detailed chemical processes in a box model demonstrates that both the time scale to reach aqueous phase equilibria and the choice of rate constants of irreversible reactions have a pronounced effect on the predicted atmospheric relevance of SOA formation from glyoxal. During day time, a photochemical (most likely radical-initiated) process is the major SOA formation pathway forming ∼5 μg m−3 SOA over 12 h (assuming a constant glyoxal mixing ratio of 300 ppt). During night time, reactions of nitrogen-containing compounds (ammonium, amines, amino acids) contribute most to the predicted SOA mass; however, the absolute predicted SOA masses are reduced by an order of magnitude as compared to day time production. The contribution of the ammonium reaction significantly increases in moderately acidic or neutral particles (5 < pH < 7). Glyoxal uptake into ammonium sulfate seed under dark conditions can be represented with a single reaction parameter keffupt that does not depend on aerosol loading or water content, which indicates a possibly catalytic role of aerosol water in SOA formation. However, the reversible nature of uptake under dark conditions is not captured by keffupt, and can be parameterized by an effective Henry's law constant including an equilibrium constant Kolig = 1000 (in ammonium sulfate solution). Such reversible glyoxal oligomerization contributes <1% to total predicted SOA masses at any time. Sensitivity tests reveal five parameters that strongly affect the predicted SOA mass from glyoxal: (1) time scales to reach equilibrium states (as opposed to assuming instantaneous equilibrium), (2) particle pH, (3) chemical composition of the bulk aerosol, (4) particle surface composition, and (5) particle liquid water content that is mostly determined by the amount and hygroscopicity of aerosol mass and to a lesser extent by the ambient relative humidity. Glyoxal serves as an example molecule, and the conclusions about SOA formation in aqueous particles can serve for comparative studies of other molecules that form SOA as the result of multiphase chemical processing in aerosol water. This SOA source is currently underrepresented in atmospheric models; if included it is likely to bring SOA predictions (mass and O/C ratio) into better agreement with field observations.

scholarly journals Using the chemical equilibrium partitioning space to explore factors influencing the phase distribution of compounds involved in secondary organic aerosol formation

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 3395-3412 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Wania ◽  
Y. D. Lei ◽  
C. Wang ◽  
J. P. D. Abbatt ◽  
K.-U. Goss
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Aqueous Phase ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Phase Distribution ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Liquid Water Content ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Many atmospheric and chemical variables influence the partitioning equilibrium between gas phase and condensed phases of compounds implicated in the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The large number of factors and their interaction makes it often difficult to assess their relative importance and concerted impact. Here we introduce a two-dimensional space which maps regions of dominant atmospheric phase distribution within a coordinate system defined by equilibrium partition coefficients between the gas phase, an aqueous phase and a water-insoluble organic matter (WIOM) phase. Placing compounds formed from the oxidation of n-alkanes, terpenes and mono-aromatic hydrocarbons on the maps based on their predicted partitioning properties allows for a simple graphical assessment of their equilibrium phase distribution behaviour. Specifically, it allows for the simultaneous visualisation and quantitative comparison of the impact on phase distribution of changes in atmospheric parameters (such as temperature, salinity, WIOM-phase polarity, organic aerosol load, and liquid water content) and chemical properties (such as oxidation state, molecular size, functionalisation, and dimerisation). The graphical analysis reveals that the addition of hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl groups increases the affinity of aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons for the aqueous phase more rapidly than their affinity for WIOM, suggesting that the aqueous phase may often be relevant even for substances that are considerably larger than the C2 and C3 compounds that are typically believed to be associated with aqueous SOA. In particular, the maps identify some compounds that contribute to SOA formation if partitioning to both WIOM and aqueous phase is considered but would remain in the gas phase if either condensed phase were neglected. For example, many semi-volatile α-pinene oxidation products will contribute to aqueous SOA under the conditions of high liquid water content encountered in clouds but would remain vapours in wet aerosol. It is conceivable to develop parameterisations of "partitioning basis sets" that group compounds with comparable partitioning properties, which – when combined with data on the abundance of those groups of compounds – could serve in the simulation of SOA formation.

scholarly journals simpleGAMMA – a reduced model of secondary organic aerosol formation in the aqueous aerosol phase (aaSOA)

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 463-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Woo ◽  
V. F. McNeill
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Reaction Scheme ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Mechanism Analysis ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Computationally Efficient ◽  
Cloud Droplets ◽  
Aerosol Model

Abstract. There is increasing evidence that the uptake and aqueous processing of water-soluble volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by wet aerosols or cloud droplets is an important source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). We recently developed GAMMA (Gas–Aerosol Model for Mechanism Analysis), a zero-dimensional kinetic model that couples gas-phase and detailed aqueous-phase atmospheric chemistry for speciated prediction of SOA and organosulfate formation in cloudwater or aqueous aerosols. Results from GAMMA simulations of SOA formation in aerosol water (McNeill et al., 2012) indicate that it is dominated by two pathways: isoprene epoxydiol (IEPOX) uptake followed by ring-opening chemistry (under low-NOx conditions) and glyoxal uptake. This suggested that it is possible to model the majority of aqueous aerosol phase SOA mass using a highly simplified reaction scheme. We have therefore developed a reduced version of GAMMA, simpleGAMMA. Close agreement in predicted aaSOA mass is observed between simpleGAMMA and GAMMA under all conditions tested (between pH 1–4 and RH 40–80%) after 12 h of simulation. simpleGAMMA is computationally efficient and suitable for coupling with larger-scale atmospheric chemistry models.

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