Laboratory studies of the reactive uptake of biogenic species: Evidence for the direct polymerization of isoprene, terpenes and sesquiterpenes on acidic aerosols

Numerous studies on heterogeneous reactions have shown that polymerization of semi-volatile and volatile organic compounds occurs in aerosols. To date, most evidence suggests that gaseous hydrocarbon oxidation products containing carbonyl functionality are the prime candidates for these processes. Such processes involve primarily hydration, acetal formation, polymerization and aldol-condensation reactions, resulting in oligomer products of potential significance with respect to secondary organic aerosol formation (SOA). However, little information on the heterogeneous reactions of unsaturated hydrocarbons (olefins) is known. Given that biogenic species, many of them unsaturated, make up a considerable portion of hydrocarbons emitted globally, direct reactive uptake of these compounds on aerosols would also potentially be a major source of SOA. In the present study, individual biogenic hydrocarbons were exposed to pre-existing acidic sulfate aerosols within a 2 m3 Teflon reaction chamber under varying relative humidity conditions. An Aerosol Mass Spectrometer was used to quantify any subsequent increase in organic mass as a function of time, and to obtain information regarding the structure of products via aerosol mass spectra. A Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometer was used to measure the gas-phase concentrations of isoprene, terpenes (?-pinene, ?-pinene, limonene, and carene) and sesquiterpenes (?-caryophylene and humulene) in the reaction chamber. Results from these experiments show that a significant amount of these compounds are taken up by the acidic aerosols rapidly, in a polymerization process which was highly dependent on the particle acidity. This polymerization mechanism likely involves the oxygenation of the resulting polymers via acid catalyzed hydration. The uptake of the unsaturated hydrocarbons suggests that gas-phase oxidation of biogenics to condensable products is not the only route to SOA. Details of the polymerization and hydration mechanisms, as determined from aerosol mass spectra, and the significance of this process to the ambient atmosphere will be presented.