Understanding the role of secondary chemistry, functionalization and chemical erosion in the heterogeneous oxidation of organic aerosols
Abstract
Heterogeneous reactions of organic aerosols with gas-phase oxidants can alter both chemical composition and size, in some cases activating aerosols particles for cloud formation. Furthermore, reactions of hydroxyl (OH) radicals at the surface of organic aerosols can also liberate a host of volatile organic compounds that are potentially important intermediates in photochemical cycles such as smog formation. Our research is focused on using model particles in order to develop a quantitative molecular understanding of heterogeneous reaction rates and pathways that repartition organic material between the gas and particle phases. By combining photoionization and electron impact aerosol mass spectrometry, we find that there is a dynamic interplay between heterogeneous reactions that add oxygen functional groups to the particle and those that produce gas phase reaction products.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009AGUFM.A21H..06W
- Keywords:
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- 0305 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE / Aerosols and particles;
- 0317 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE / Chemical kinetic and photochemical properties