scholarly journals New particle formation above a simulated salt lake in aerosol chamber experiments

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 489 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Kamilli ◽  
J. Ofner ◽  
B. Lendl ◽  
P. Schmitt-Kopplin ◽  
A. Held
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Mechanism ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Salt Lake ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Salt Lakes ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Aerosol Chamber

Environmental context Deforestation in Western Australia beginning in the mid-19th century led to a considerable change of the land surface, and Western Australia is now suffering more often from droughts. Particle formation induced by salt lakes has been identified as a potential control factor for changed precipitation patterns. This study aims to determine key factors involved in the particle formation process by simulating a simplified salt lake in an aerosol chamber in the laboratory. Abstract In recent field experiments, particle formation has been observed above salt lakes in Western Australia and related to changes in regional precipitation patterns. This work investigates the particle formation potential above a simulated salt lake in aerosol chamber experiments under various conditions. The salt lake mixture comprised fixed concentrations of NaBr, NaCl and Na2SO4, and varying concentrations of FeSO4 and FeCl3. Further, an organic mixture of 1,8-cineol and limonene was added under dark and light conditions. Both the presence of organic compounds and of light were found to be essential for new particle formation in our experiments. There were clear indications for conversion of FeII to FeIII, which suggests a Fenton-like reaction mechanism in the system. Contrary to the idea that a Fenton-like reaction mechanism might intensify the oxidation of organic matter, thus facilitating secondary organic aerosol formation, the observed particle formation started later and with lower intensity under elevated FeII concentrations. The highest particle number concentrations were observed when excluding FeII from the experiments. Chemical analysis of the formed aerosol confirmed the important role of the Fenton-like reaction for particle formation in this study. Ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy provide analytical proof for the formation of organosulfates and halogenated organic compounds in the experiments presented. Even though halogens and organic precursors are abundant in these experimental simulations, halogen-induced organic aerosol formation exists but seems to play a minor overall role in particle formation.

scholarly journals Secondary organic aerosol production from pinanediol, a semi-volatile surrogate for first-generation oxidation products of monoterpenes

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 6171-6186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penglin Ye ◽  
Yunliang Zhao ◽  
Wayne K. Chuang ◽  
Allen L. Robinson ◽  
Neil M. Donahue
Keyword(s):  
Organic Compounds ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Oxidation Products ◽  
Basis Set ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Volatile Precursor

Abstract. We have investigated the production of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from pinanediol (PD), a precursor chosen as a semi-volatile surrogate for first-generation oxidation products of monoterpenes. Observations at the CLOUD facility at CERN have shown that oxidation of organic compounds such as PD can be an important contributor to new-particle formation. Here we focus on SOA mass yields and chemical composition from PD photo-oxidation in the CMU smog chamber. To determine the SOA mass yields from this semi-volatile precursor, we had to address partitioning of both the PD and its oxidation products to the chamber walls. After correcting for these losses, we found OA loading dependent SOA mass yields from PD oxidation that ranged between 0.1 and 0.9 for SOA concentrations between 0.02 and 20 µg m−3, these mass yields are 2–3 times larger than typical of much more volatile monoterpenes. The average carbon oxidation state measured with an aerosol mass spectrometer was around −0.7. We modeled the chamber data using a dynamical two-dimensional volatility basis set and found that a significant fraction of the SOA comprises low-volatility organic compounds that could drive new-particle formation and growth, which is consistent with the CLOUD observations.

How salt lakes affect atmospheric new particle formation: A case study in Western Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 573 ◽  
pp. 985-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.A. Kamilli ◽  
J. Ofner ◽  
T. Krause ◽  
T. Sattler ◽  
P. Schmitt-Kopplin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Salt Lakes ◽  
New Particle Formation

scholarly journals Effects of NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> and SO<sub>2</sub> on the secondary organic aerosol formation from photooxidation of <i>α</i>-pinene and limonene

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1611-1628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Defeng Zhao ◽  
Sebastian H. Schmitt ◽  
Mingjin Wang ◽  
Ismail-Hakki Acir ◽  
Ralf Tillmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Anthropogenic Emissions ◽  
Organic Nitrate ◽  
Mass Yield ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Spectrometer Data ◽  
Mass Formation

Abstract. Anthropogenic emissions such as NOx and SO2 influence the biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, but detailed mechanisms and effects are still elusive. We studied the effects of NOx and SO2 on the SOA formation from the photooxidation of α-pinene and limonene at ambient relevant NOx and SO2 concentrations (NOx: < 1to 20 ppb, SO2: < 0.05 to 15 ppb). In these experiments, monoterpene oxidation was dominated by OH oxidation. We found that SO2 induced nucleation and enhanced SOA mass formation. NOx strongly suppressed not only new particle formation but also SOA mass yield. However, in the presence of SO2 which induced a high number concentration of particles after oxidation to H2SO4, the suppression of the mass yield of SOA by NOx was completely or partly compensated for. This indicates that the suppression of SOA yield by NOx was largely due to the suppressed new particle formation, leading to a lack of particle surface for the organics to condense on and thus a significant influence of vapor wall loss on SOA mass yield. By compensating for the suppressing effect on nucleation of NOx, SO2 also compensated for the suppressing effect on SOA yield. Aerosol mass spectrometer data show that increasing NOx enhanced nitrate formation. The majority of the nitrate was organic nitrate (57–77 %), even in low-NOx conditions (< ∼ 1 ppb). Organic nitrate contributed 7–26 % of total organics assuming a molecular weight of 200 g mol−1. SOA from α-pinene photooxidation at high NOx had a generally lower hydrogen to carbon ratio (H ∕ C), compared to low NOx. The NOx dependence of the chemical composition can be attributed to the NOx dependence of the branching ratio of the RO2 loss reactions, leading to a lower fraction of organic hydroperoxides and higher fractions of organic nitrates at high NOx. While NOx suppressed new particle formation and SOA mass formation, SO2 can compensate for such effects, and the combining effect of SO2 and NOx may have an important influence on SOA formation affected by interactions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with anthropogenic emissions.

scholarly journals Secondary organic aerosol production from pinanediol, a semi-volatile surrogate for first-generation oxidation products of monoterpenes

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penglin Ye ◽  
Yunliang Zhao ◽  
Wayne K. Chuang ◽  
Allen L. Robinson ◽  
Neil M. Donahue
Keyword(s):  
Organic Compounds ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Oxidation Products ◽  
Basis Set ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Volatile Precursor

Abstract. We have investigated the production of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from pinanediol (PD), a precursor chosen as a semi-volatile surrogate for first-generation oxidation products of monoterpenes. Observations at the CLOUD facility at CERN have shown that oxidation of organic compounds such as PD can be an important contributor to new-particle formation. Here we focus on SOA mass yields and chemical composition from PD photo-oxidation in the CMU smog chamber. To determine the SOA mass yields from this semi-volatile precursor, we had to address partitioning of both the PD and its oxidation products to the chamber walls. After correcting for these losses, we found OA loading dependent SOA mass yields from PD oxidation that ranged between 0.1 and 0.9 for SOA concentrations between 0.02 and 20 µg m−3, these mass yields are 2–3 times larger than typical of much more volatile monoterpenes. The average carbon oxidation state measured with an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer was around −0.7. We modeled the chamber data using a dynamical two-dimensional volatility basis set and found that a significant fraction of the SOA comprises low volatility organic compounds that could drive new-particle formation and growth, which is consistent with the CLOUD observations.

Salsolaius gen. nov. a new genus of Apalochrini (Coleoptera, Melyridae, Malachiinae) from the salt Lake Way of Western Australia

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5082 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-400
Author(s):  
ZHENHUA LIU ◽  
ADAM ŚLIPIŃSKI ◽  
HONG PANG
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Type Species ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Salt Lake ◽  
Salt Lakes ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male Specific

Apalochrini comprises nearly half of the genera of Australian Melyridae, which are all recognized by male specific characters, and are commonly found on grasses, flowers and riverside or seashore rocks. Here we describe a new genus Salsolaius gen. nov. from Lake Way of Western Australia, representing the first known genus of Australian Melyridae inhabitating in salt lakes. The new genus can be easily distinguished by asymmetrically biserrate antennae and exposed apical abdomen from above in both male and female, the former characters is firstly found in Melyridae. Consequently, Salsolaius biserratus sp. nov. was described as the type species of this genus. An updated key to genera of Australian Apalochrini is provided.  

scholarly journals The importance of sesquiterpene oxidation products for secondary organic aerosol formation in a spring-time hemi-boreal forest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis M. F. Barreira ◽  
Arttu Ylisirniö ◽  
Iida Pullinen ◽  
Angela Buchholz ◽  
Zijun Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Oxidation Products ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Particle Phase ◽  
Aerosol Formation

Abstract. Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) formed from biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) constitute a significant fraction of atmospheric particulate matter and have been recognized to affect significantly the climate and air quality. Many laboratory and field experiments have studied SOA particle formation and growth in the recent years. Most of them have focused on a few monoterpenes and isoprene. However, atmospheric SOA particulate mass yields and chemical composition result from a much more complex mixture of oxidation products originating from many BVOCs, including terpenes other than isoprene and monoterpenes. Thus, a large uncertainty still remains regarding the contribution of BVOCs to SOA. In particular, organic compounds formed from sesquiterpenes have not been thoroughly investigated, and their contribution to SOA remains poorly characterized. In this study, a Filter Inlet for Gases and Aerosols (FIGAERO) combined with a high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS), with iodide ionization, was used for the simultaneous measurement of gas and particle phase atmospheric SOA. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relative contribution of sesquiterpene oxidation products to SOA in a spring-time hemi-boreal forest environment. Our results revealed that monoterpene and sesquiterpene oxidation products were the main contributors to SOA particles. The chemical composition of SOA particles was compared for times when either monoterpene or sesquiterpene oxidation products were dominant and possible key oxidation products for SOA particle formation were identified. Surprisingly, sesquiterpene oxidation products were the predominant fraction in the particle phase at some periods, while their gas phase concentrations remained much lower than those of monoterpene products. This can be explained by quick and effective partitioning of sesquiterpene products into the particle phase or their efficient removal by dry deposition. The SOA particle volatility determined from measured thermograms increased when the concentration of sesquiterpene oxidation products in SOA particles was higher than that of monoterpenes. Overall, this study demonstrates the important role of sesquiterpenes in atmospheric chemistry and suggests that the contribution of their products to SOA particles is being underestimated in comparison to the most studied terpenes.

scholarly journals In situ secondary organic aerosol formation from ambient pine forest air using an oxidation flow reactor

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (21) ◽  
pp. 30409-30471 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. B. Palm ◽  
P. Campuzano-Jost ◽  
A. M. Ortega ◽  
D. A. Day ◽  
L. Kaser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Flow Reactor ◽  
Secondary Organic Aerosol ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Oxidation Products ◽  
Oh Radicals ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Photochemical Aging

Abstract. Ambient air was oxidized by OH radicals in an oxidation flow reactor (OFR) located in a montane pine forest during the BEACHON-RoMBAS campaign to study biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation and aging. High OH concentrations and short residence times allowed for semi-continuous cycling through a large range of OH exposures ranging from hours to weeks of equivalent (eq.) atmospheric aging. A simple model is derived and used to account for the relative time scales of condensation of low volatility organic compounds (LVOCs) onto particles, condensational loss to the walls, and further reaction to produce volatile, non-condensing fragmentation products. More SOA production was observed in the OFR at nighttime (average 4 μg m-3 when LVOC fate corrected) compared to daytime (average 1 μg m-3 when LVOC fate corrected), with maximum formation observed at 0.4–1.5 eq. days of photochemical aging. SOA formation followed a similar diurnal pattern to monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and toluene + p-cymene concentrations, including a substantial increase just after sunrise at 07:00 LT. Higher photochemical aging (> 10 eq. days) led to a decrease in new SOA formation and a loss of preexisting OA due to heterogeneous oxidation followed by fragmentation and volatilization. When comparing two different commonly used methods of OH production in OFRs (OFR185 and OFR254), similar amounts of SOA formation were observed. We recommend the OFR185 mode for future forest studies. Concurrent gas-phase measurements of air after OH oxidation illustrate the decay of primary VOCs, production of small oxidized organic compounds, and net production at lower ages followed by net consumption of terpenoid oxidation products as photochemical age increased. New particle formation was observed in the reactor after oxidation, especially during times when precursor gas concentrations and SOA formation were largest. Approximately 6 times more SOA was formed in the reactor from OH oxidation than could be explained by the VOCs measured in ambient air. Several recently-developed instruments quantified ambient semi- and intermediate-volatility organic compounds (S/IVOCs) that were not detected by a PTR-TOF-MS. An SOA yield of 24–80 % from those compounds can explain the observed SOA, suggesting that these typically unmeasured S/IVOCs play a substantial role in ambient SOA formation. Our results allow ruling out condensation sticking coefficients much lower than 1. Our measurements help clarify the magnitude of SOA formation in forested environments, and demonstrate methods for interpretation of ambient OFR measurements.

Studying new particle formation from chemical emissions from sea surface using  ship-borne air-sea-interaction tanks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maija Peltola ◽  
Manon Rocco ◽  
Neill Barr ◽  
Erin Dunne ◽  
James Harnwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Biology ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
The European Union ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Horizon 2020

&lt;p&gt;Even though oceans cover over 70% of the Earth&amp;#8217;s surface, the ways in which oceans interact with climate are not fully known. Marine micro-organisms such as phytoplankton can play an important role in regulating climate by releasing different chemical species into air. In air these chemical species can react and form new aerosol particles. If grown to large enough sizes, aerosols can influence climate by acting as cloud condensation nuclei which influence the formation and properties of clouds. Even though a connection of marine biology and climate through aerosol formation was first proposed already over 30 years ago, the processes related to this connection are still uncertain.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To unravel how seawater properties affect aerosol formation and to identify which chemical species are responsible for aerosol formation, we built two Air-Sea-Interaction Tanks (ASIT) that isolate 1000 l of seawater and 1000 l of air directly above the water. The used seawater was collected from different locations during a ship campaign on board the R/V Tangaroa in the South West Pacific Ocean, close to Chatham Rise, east of New Zealand. Seawater from one location was kept in the tanks for 2-3 days and then changed. By using seawater collected from different locations, we could obtain water with different biological populations. To monitor the seawater, we took daily samples to determine its chemical and biological properties.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The air in the tanks was continuously flushed with particle filtered air. This way the air had on average 40 min to interact with the seawater surface before being sampled. Our air sampling was continuous and consisted of aerosol and air chemistry measurements. The instrumentation included measurements of aerosol number concentration from 1 to 500 nm and&amp;#160; chemical species ranging from ozone and sulphur dioxide to volatile organic compounds and chemical composition of molecular clusters.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Joining the seawater and atmospheric data together can give us an idea of what chemical species are emitted from the water into the atmosphere and whether these species can form new aerosol particles. Our preliminary results show a small number of particles in the freshly nucleated size range of 1-3 nm in the ASIT headspaces, indicating that new aerosol particles can form in the ASIT headspaces. In this presentation, we will also explore which chemical species could be responsible for aerosol formation and which plankton groups could be related to the emissions of these species. Combining these results with ambient data and modelling work can shed light on how important new particle formation from marine sources is for climate.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Acknowledgements: Sea2Cloud project is funded by European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union&amp;#8217;s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 771369).&lt;/p&gt;

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