Organic aerosols (OA) are a dominant fraction of particulate mass in the atmosphere, and much is secondary in nature. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is formed in the atmosphere from volatile organic compound precursors. Traditional SOA formation pathways involve primarily gas-phase processes: Oxidation reactions of organic gases result in low-volatility products that condense to the particulate phase, increasing aerosol mass. However, in recent years heterogeneous processes, including aqueous reactions, have gained more attention as gas-phase processes often fail to accurately predict observed mass loadings of aerosol in the atmosphere. Aqueous SOA formation is the result of a volatile organic species partitioning to the aqueous phase (clouds, fogs, aqueous aerosols), where they are chemically converted into a non-volatile species that remains in the particulate phase upon water evaporation. In this work we explore the aqueous chemical reaction kinetics and the SOA formation potential of phenols, which are released in large quantities from biomass combustion. Phenols are a broad class of organic compounds with intermediate volatilities (102 - 106 [mu]g m−3 at 20°C) and moderate to high Henry's Law Constants (103 - 109M atm−1), indicating significant partitioning to atmospheric aqueous phases. We begin in chapters 2 and 3 by investigating the aqueous oxidation of the compounds phenol (compound with formula C6H5OH), guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol), syringol (2,6-dimethoxyphenol), and three dihydroxybenzenes (catechol, resorcinol, hydroquinone). For each phenol we examined reactions with two oxidants: hydroxyl radical (*OH) and the triplet excited state of 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde, which is also emitted from biomass combustion. Triplet excited states (3C*) have been widely studied in surface waters (oceans and lakes) but are a novel oxidation pathway in atmospheric aqueous phases. The precursors for triplet excited states are essentially brown carbon: organic molecules high amoutns of conjugation (or nitrogen hetero atoms) that can absorb solar radiation, resulting in an excited molecule with a high oxidative potential. We find that the 3C*-mediated aqueous oxidations of phenols are rapid and can dominate over *OH at low pH (
Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is formed and transformed in atmospheric aqueous phases (e.g., cloud and fog droplets and deliquesced airborne particles containing small amounts of water) through a multitude of chemical and physical processes. Understanding the formation and transformation processes of SOA via aqueous-phase reactions is important for properly presenting its atmospheric evolution pathways in models and for elucidating its climate and health effects. Phenolic compounds, which are emitted in significant amounts from biomass burning, can undergo fast reactions in atmospheric aqueous phases to form secondary organic aerosol (aqSOA). In this study, we investigate the formation and evolution of phenol (C6H6O), guaiacol (C7H8O2; 2-methoxyphenol) and syringol (C8H10O3; 2,6-dimethoxyphenol) and with two major aqueous phase oxidants -- the triplet excited state of an aromatic carbonyl (3C*) and hydroxyl radical (·OH) - and interpret the reaction mechanisms. In addition, given that dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important component of fog and cloud water and that it can undergo aqueous reactions to form more oxidized, less volatile species, we further investigate the photochemical processing of DOM in fog water to gain insights into the aqueous-phase processing of organic aerosol (OA) in the atmosphere. In Chapter 2, we thoroughly characterize the bulk chemical and molecular compositions of phenolic aqSOA formed at half-life (t[subscript 1/2]), and interpret the formation mechanisms. We find that phenolic aqSOA formed at t[subscript 1/2] is highly oxygenated with atomic oxygen-to-carbon ratio (O/C) in the range of 0.85-1.23. Dimers, higher oligomers (up to hexamers), functionalized monomers and oligomers with carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups, and small organic acids are detected. Compared with ·OH-mediated reactions, reactions mediated by 3C* are faster and produce more oligomers and hydroxylated species at t[subscript1/2]. We also find that aqSOA shows enhanced light absorption in the UV-vis region, suggesting that aqueous-phase reactions of phenols are an important source of secondary brown carbon in the atmosphere, especially in regions impacted by biomass burning. In Chapter 3, we investigate the chemical evolution of phenolic aqSOA via aqueous-phase reactions on the molecular level and interpret the aging mechanisms. Our results indicate that oligomerization is an important aqueous reaction pathway for phenols, especially during the initial stage of photooxidation. Functionalization and fragmentation become dominant at later stages, forming a variety of functionalized aromatic and ring-opening products with higher carbon oxidation states. Fragmentation reactions eventually dominate the photochemical evolution of phenolic aqSOA, forming a large number of highly oxygenated ring-opening molecules. In addition, phenolic aqSOA has a wide range of saturation vapor pressures (C*), varying from 10−20 [mu]g m−3 for functionalized phenolic oligomers to 10 [mu]g m−3 for ring-opening species with number of carbon less than 6. The detection of abundant extremely low volatile organic compounds (ELVOC) indicates that aqueous reactions of phenolic compounds are likely an important source of ELVOC in the atmosphere. Chapter 3 investigates the molecular transformation with aging based on the characterization of three aqSOA filter samples collected at the defined time intervals of the photoreaction. However, the chemical evolution of aqSOA products with hours of illumination at a higher time resolution is largely unknown. In Chapter 4, we investigate the chemical evolution of aqSOA at a 1-min time resolution based on high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) analysis. This is important for understanding the continuous evolution of phenolic aqSOA with aging as well as for elucidating the formation and transformation of different generations of products. Our results suggest that dimer and higher-order oligomers (trimers, tetramers, etc.) are formed continuously during the first 1-2 hours of photoreaction but show a gradual decrease afterwards. Functionalized derivatives grow at a later time and then gradually decrease. Highly oxidized ring-opening species continuously increase over the course of reactions. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis of the AMS spectra of phenolic aqSOA identifies multiple factors, representing different generations of products. The 1st-generation products include dimers, higher-order oligomers and their oxygenated derivatives. The 2nd-generation products include oxygenated monomeric derivatives. The 3rd-generation products include highly oxidized ring-opening species. In Chapter 5, we investigate the evolution of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in fog water. Our results show that the mass concentration of DOM[subscript OA] (i.e., low-volatility DOM in fog water) is enhanced over the course of illumination, with continuous increase of O/C and atomic nitrogen-to-carbon ratio (N/C). The increase of DOM[subscript OA] is due to the incorporation of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing functional groups into the molecules. The aqueous aging of DOM[subscript OA] can be modeled as a linear combination of the dynamic variations of 3 factors using PMF analysis. Factor 1 is chemically similar to the DOM[subscript OA] before illumination, which is quickly reacted away. Factor 2 is representative of an intermediate component, which is first formed and then transformed, and O/C of Factor 2 is intermediate between that of Factor 1 and Factor 3. Factor 3 represents highly oxidized final products, which is continuously formed during illumination. Fog DOM absorbs significantly in the tropospheric sunlight wavelengths, but this absorption behavior stays almost constant over the course of illumination, despite the significant change in chemical composition.
An important guide that highlights the multiphase chemical processes for students and professionals who want to learn more about aerosol chemistry Atmospheric Multiphase Reaction Chemistry provides the information and knowledge of multiphase chemical processes and offers a review of the fundamentals on gas-liquid equilibrium, gas phase reactions, bulk aqueous phase reactions, and gas-particle interface reactions related to formation of secondary aerosols. The authors—noted experts on the topic—also describe new particle formation, and cloud condensation nuclei activity. In addition, the text includes descriptions of field observations on secondary aerosols and PM2.5. Atmospheric aerosols play a critical role in air quality and climate change. There is growing evidence that the multiphase reactions involving heterogeneous reactions on the air-particle interface and the reactions in the bulk liquid phase of wet aerosol and cloud/fog droplets are important processes forming secondary aerosols in addition to gas-phase oxidation reactions to form low-volatile compounds. Comprehensive in scope, the book offers an understanding of the topic by providing a historical overview of secondary aerosols, the fundamentals of multiphase reactions, gas-phase reactions of volatile organic compounds, aqueous phase and air-particle interface reactions of organic compound. This important text: Provides knowledge on multiphase chemical processes for graduate students and research scientists Includes fundamentals on gas-liquid equilibrium, gas phase reactions, bulk aqueous phase reactions, and gas-particle interface reactions related to formation of secondary aerosols Covers in detail reaction chemistry of secondary organic aerosols Written for students and research scientists in atmospheric chemistry and aerosol science of environmental engineering, Atmospheric Multiphase Reaction Chemistry offers an essential guide to the fundamentals of multiphase chemical processes.
The photooxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere can lead to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA), a major component of fine particulate matter. Improvements to air quality require insight into the many reactive intermediates that lead to SOA formation, of which only a small fraction have been measured at the molecular level. This thesis describes the chemistry of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from several atmospherically relevant hydrocarbon precursors. Photooxidation experiments of methoxyphenol and phenolic compounds and C12 alkanes were conducted in the Caltech Environmental Chamber. These experiments include the first photooxidation studies of these precursors run under sufficiently low NOx levels, such that RO2 + HO2 chemistry dominates, an important chemical regime in the atmosphere. Using online Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometery (CIMS), key gas-phase intermediates that lead to SOA formation in these systems were identified. With complementary particle-phase analyses, chemical mechanisms elucidating the SOA formation from these compounds are proposed. Three methoxyphenol species (phenol, guaiacol, and syringol) were studied to model potential photooxidation schemes of biomass burning intermediates. SOA yields (ratio of mass of SOA formed to mass of primary organic reacted) exceeding 25% are observed. Aerosol growth is rapid and linear with the organic conversion, consistent with the formation of essentially non-volatile products. Gas and aerosol-phase oxidation products from the guaiacol system show that the chemical mechanism consists of highly oxidized aromatic species in the particle phase. Syringol SOA yields are lower than that of phenol and guaiacol, likely due to unique chemistry dependent on methoxy group position. The photooxidation of several C12 alkanes of varying structure n-dodecane, 2-methylundecane, cyclododecane, and hexylcyclohexane) were run under extended OH exposure to investigate the effect of molecular structure on SOA yields and photochemical aging. Peroxyhemiacetal formation from the reactions of several multifunctional hydroperoxides and aldehyde intermediates was found to be central to organic growth in all systems, and SOA yields increased with cyclic character of the starting hydrocarbon. All of these studies provide direction for future experiments and modeling in order to lessen outstanding discrepancies between predicted and measured SOA.
Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) affect visibility, health and global climate. Current chemical transport models cannot represent SOA in the free troposphere. Fog/cloud processing, which is the dominant source of atmospheric sulfate, has been recognized as a missing source of SOA globally. Aqueous photooxidation of water-soluble products (e.g., glyoxal and methylglyoxal) of gas-phase photochemistry yields low-volatility compounds including oxalic acid. When this chemistry takes place in clouds and fogs followed by droplet evaporation (or if this chemistry occurs in aerosol water) then products remain in part in the particle phase, forming SOA. However, current aqueous SOA formation mechanism has not shown how the starting concentrations of precursors and presence of acidic sulfate affect product formation. Aqueous phase photochemical batch reactions were conducted with glyoxal and methylglyoxal at cloud relevant concentrations, using hydrogen peroxide photolysis as the hydroxyl radical (OH) source. Experiments were repeated at higher concentrations and with/without sulfuric acid. Precursors and products were investigated using ion chromatography (IC), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and IC-ESI-MS. Products included carboxylic acids and higher molecular weight compounds, which are major constituents of aerosols. Sulfuric acid shows little effect on product formation. Dilute aqueous chemistry models successfully reproduced product formation for glyoxal and methylglyoxal at cloud relevant conditions, but measurements deviated from predictions from predictions at elevated concentrations. Higher molecular weight products become increasingly important as precursor concentration increases. Aqueous radical-radical reactions provide explanations for observed higher molecular weight products. Additionally, acetic acid is identified as an SOA precursor for the first time. This work provides an improved understanding of aqueous phase dicarbonyl oxidation mechanism and the overall significance of aqueous SOA formation. Kinetic data are made available to regional and global atmospheric models, and the mechanism described in this work will help people to mitigate adverse aerosol effects.
The immense chemical complexity of atmospheric organic particulate matter ("aerosol") has left the general field of condensed-phase atmospheric organic chemistry relatively under-developed when compared with either gas-phase chemistry or the formation of inorganic compounds. In this work, we endeavor to improve the general understanding of the narrow class of oxidation reactions that occur at the interface between the particle surface and the gas-phase. The heterogeneous oxidation of pure erythritol (C4H1 00 4 ) and levoglucosan (C6H1 00 5) particles by hydroxyl radical (OH) was studied first in order to evaluate the effects of atmospheric aging on the mass and chemical composition of atmospheric organic aerosol, particularly that resembling fresh secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and biomass-burning organic aerosol (BBOA). In contrast to what is generally observed for the heterogeneous oxidation of reduced organics, substantial volatilization is observed in both systems. As a continuation of the heterogeneous oxidation experiments, we also measure the kinetics and products of the aging of highly oxidized organic aerosol, in which submicron particles composed of model oxidized organics -- 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (C8H100 8), citric acid (C6 H8 0 7), tartaric acid (C4H6 0 6 ), and Suwannee River fulvic acid -- were oxidized by gas-phase OH in the same flow reactor, and the masses and elemental composition of the particles were monitored as a function of OH exposure. In contrast to studies of the less-oxidized model systems, particle mass did not decrease significantly with heterogeneous oxidation, although substantial chemical transformations were observed and characterized. Lastly, the immense complexity inherent in the formation of SOA -- due primarily to the large number of oxidation steps and reaction pathways involved -- has limited the detailed understanding of its underlying chemistry. In order to simplify this inherent complexity, we give over the last portion of this thesis to a novel technique for the formation of SOA through the photolysis of gas-phase alkyl iodides, which generates organic peroxy radicals of known structure. In contrast to standard OH-initiated oxidation experiments, photolytically initiated oxidation forms a limited number of products via a single reactive step. The system in which the photolytic SOA is formed is also repurposed as a generator of organic aerosol for input into a secondary reaction chamber, where the organic particles undergo additional aging by the heterogeneous oxidation mechanism already discussed. Particles exiting this reactor are observed to have become more dramatically oxidized than comparable systems containing SOA formed by gas-phase alkanes undergoing "normal" photo-oxidation by OH, suggesting simultaneously the utility of gas-phase precursor photolysis as an effective experimental platform for studying directly the chemistry involved in atmospheric aerosol formation and also the possibility that heterogeneous processes may play a more significant role in the atmosphere than what is predicted from chamber experiments. Consideration is given for the application of these results to larger-scale experiments, models, and conceptual frameworks.
Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA) can have significant impacts on visibility, human health, and global climate, and a more detailed understanding of the roles of both gas-phase and heterogeneous/multiphase chemistry is needed to develop air quality models that accurately represent the formation of SOA from the oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons. The objective of this dissertation is to investigate the mechanisms and products of SOA formation from the OH radical-initiated reaction of aromatics in an environmental chamber. This is done using a combination of thermal desorption particle beam mass spectrometry, functional group and CHON elemental analysis, and UV spectroscopy. Chapter 2 investigates the variability of SOA yields measured for reactions of m-xylene and other methylbenzenes as a function of humidity, seed particle, OH source, NO x concentration, light intensity, and mass loading. The most significant factor that determined SOA yields was the amount of m -xylene reacted. The chapter concludes with a discussion of a series of experiments conducted to isolate the contribution to SOA formation of specific primary gas-phase products of the m -xylene reaction. Chapter 3 examines the formation of SOA from the oxidation of 3-methylfuran, which produces among other compounds an [Alpha, Beta]-unsaturated dicarbonyl that is also a major product of the oxidation of m -xylene. We have determined that SOA forms from the heterogeneous/multiphase oligomerization of primary reaction products to form esters, hemiacetals, and acetals, and not through second-generation reactions. Chapter 4 discusses the chemical composition of SOA formed from the reaction of m -xylene and how the variables detailed in Chapter 2 affect the composition. Experiments were carried out with deuterated m-xylene to confirm that SOA is dominated by hemiacetals formed from C8 ring-opened primary products and their second-generation products. Finally, Chapter 5 shows that SOA formed from the oxidation of benzaldehyde in the absence of NOx is largely composed of oligomeric products formed through heterogeneous/multiphase reactions involving benzoic acid, peroxybenzoic acid, phenol, and benzaldehyde.
Atmospheric Aerosols is a vital problem in current environmental research due to its importance in atmospheric optics, energetics, radiative transfer studies, chemistry, climate, biology and public health. Aerosols can influence the energy balance of the terrestrial atmosphere, the hydrological cycle, atmospheric dynamics and monsoon circulations. Because of the heterogeneous aerosol field with large spatial and temporal variability and reduction in uncertainties in aerosol quantification is a challenging task in atmospheric sciences. Keeping this in view the present study aims to assess the impact of aerosols on coastal Indian station Visakhapatnam and the adjoining Bay of Bengal. An aerosol is a colloid of fine solid particles or liquid droplets, in air or another gas. Aerosols can be natural or not. Examples of natural aerosols are fog, forest exudates and geyser steam.
Prepared by an international team of eminent atmospheric scientists, Mechanisms of Atmospheric Oxidation of the Oxygenates is an authoritative source of information on the role of oxygenates in the chemistry of the atmosphere. The oxygenates, including the many different alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters, and nitrogen-atom containing oxygenates, are of special interest today due to their increased use as alternative fuels and fuel additives. This book describes the physical properties of oxygenates, as well as the chemical and photochemical parameters that determine their reaction pathways in the atmosphere. Quantitative descriptions of the pathways of the oxygenates from release or formation in the atmosphere to final products are provided, as is a comprehensive review and evaluation of the extensive kinetic literature on the atmospheric chemistry of the different oxygenates and their many halogen-atom substituted analogues. This book will be of interest to modelers of atmospheric chemistry, environmental scientists and engineers, and air quality planning agencies as a useful input for development of realistic modules designed to simulate the atmospheric chemistry of the oxygenates, their major oxidation products, and their influence on ozone and other trace gases within the troposhere.
