Reactions of ammonia or ammonium sulfate (AS) with carbonyls in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) produced from limonene are known to form brown carbon (BrC) with a distinctive absorption band at 505 nm. This study examined the browning processes in aqueous solutions of AS and 4-oxopentanal (4-OPA), which has a 1,4-dicarbonyl structural motif present in many limonene SOA compounds. Aqueous reactions of 4-OPA with AS were found to produce 2-methyl pyrrole (2-MP), which was detected by gas chromatography. While 2-MP does not absorb visible radiation, it can further react with 4-OPA eventually forming BrC compounds. This was demonstrated by reacting 2-MP with 4-OPA or limonene SOA, both of which produced BrC with absorption bands at 475 and 505 nm, respectively. The formation of BrC in the reaction of 4-OPA with AS and ammonium nitrate was greatly accelerated by evaporation of the solution suggesting an important role of the dehydration processes in BrC formation. 4-OPA was also found to produce BrC in aqueous reactions with a broad spectrum of amino acids and amines. These results suggest that 4-OPA may be the smallest atmospherically relevant compound capable of browning by the same mechanism as limonene SOA.

Aqueous reactions of methylglyoxal (MG) and glyoxal with ammonium sulfate (AS) produce light-absorbing compounds (chromophores) and may serve as a source of atmospheric secondary “brown carbon” (BrC). The molecular composition of these chromophores is ambiguous, and their transformation due to exposure to solar UV radiation is not well understood. We examined the molecular composition, mass absorption coefficients, and fluorescence spectra of BrC samples produced by the evaporation of aqueous MG/AS solutions. Chromatograms of BrC produced by evaporation were different from those of BrC produced by slow MG/AS reaction in water, highlighting the substantial sensitivity of BrC to its formation conditions. The BrC samples were characterized before and after their exposure to broadband (270–390 nm) UV radiation. Irradiation led to rapid photobleaching, a decrease in the characteristic 280 nm absorption band, a complete loss of fluorescence, and a dramatic change in molecular composition. By comparing the composition before and after the irradiation, we identified several structural motifs that may contribute to the light-absorbing properties of MG/AS BrC. For example, a family of oligomers built from an imidazole carbonyl and repetitive MG units was prominent in the initial sample and decreased in abundance after photolysis. More complex oligomers containing both imidazole and pyrrole rings in their structures also appeared to contribute to the pool of BrC chromophores. The selective reduction of carbonyl functional groups by sodium borohydride diminished the absorption but had little effect on the fluorescence of MG/AS BrC samples, suggesting that absorption in this system is dominated by individual chromophores as opposed to supramolecular charge-transfer complexes. Due to the efficient photolysis of the BrC chromophores, this MG/AS BrC system has limited impact on the direct radiative forcing of climate but may have an effect on atmospheric photochemistry in aerosol particles.Keywords: aqueous photolysis; brown carbon aerosol; charge-transfer complexes; excitation−emission matrix; mass absorption coefficient; photobleaching; photodegradation;

The ability of a complex mixture of organic compounds found in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) to act as a photosensitizer in the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was investigated. Different types of SOAs were produced in a smog chamber by oxidation of various biogenic and anthropogenic VOCs. The SOA particles were collected from the chamber onto an inert substrate, and the resulting material was exposed to 365 nm radiation in an air flow containing ∼200 ppbv of limonene vapor. The mixing ratio of limonene and other VOCs in the flow was observed with a proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS). The photosensitized uptake of limonene was observed for several SOA materials, with a lower limit for the reactive uptake coefficient on the scale of ∼10–5. The lower limit for the uptake coefficient under conditions of Los Angeles, California on the summer solstice at noon was estimated to be on the order of ∼10–6. Photoproduction of oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) resulting from photodegradation of the SOA material also occurred in parallel with the photosensitized uptake of limonene. The estimated photosensitized limonene uptake rates by atmospheric SOA particles and vegetation surfaces appear to be too small to compete with the atmospheric oxidation of limonene by the hydroxyl radical or ozone. However, these processes could play a role in the leaf boundary layer where concentrations of oxidants are depleted and concentrations of VOCs are enhanced relative to the free atmosphere.

Formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) from biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) occurs via O3- and OH-initiated reactions during the day and reactions with NO3 during the night. We explored the effect of these three oxidation conditions on the molecular composition and aqueous photochemistry of model SOA prepared from two common BVOC. A common monoterpene, α-pinene, and sesquiterpene, α-humulene, were used to form SOA in a smog chamber via BVOC + O3, BVOC + NO3, and BVOC + OH + NOx oxidation. Samples of SOA were collected on filters, water-soluble compounds from SOA were extracted in water, and the resulting aqueous solutions were photolyzed to simulate the photochemical aqueous processing of SOA. The extent of change in the molecular level composition of SOA over 4 h of photolysis (approximately equivalent to 64 h of photolysis under ambient conditions) was assessed with high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The analysis revealed significant differences in the molecular composition between SOA formed by the different oxidation pathways. The composition further evolved during photolysis with the most notable change corresponding to the nearly complete removal of nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Hydrolysis of SOA compounds also occurred in parallel with photolysis. The preferential loss of larger SOA compounds during photolysis and hydrolysis made the SOA compounds more volatile on average. This study suggests that aqueous processes may under certain conditions lead to a reduction in the SOA loading as opposed to an increase in SOA loading commonly assumed in the literature.

We investigated the photodegradation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles by near-UV radiation and photoproduction of oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) from various types of SOA. We used a smog chamber to generate SOA from α-pinene, guaiacol, isoprene, tetradecane, and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene under high-NOx, low-NOx, or ozone oxidation conditions. The SOA particles were collected on a substrate, and the resulting material was exposed to several mW of near-UV radiation (λ ∼ 300 nm) from a light-emitting diode. Various OVOCs, including acetic acid, formic acid, acetaldehyde, and acetone were observed during photodegradation, and their SOA-mass-normalized fluxes were estimated with a Proton Transfer Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS). All the SOA, with the exception of guaiacol SOA, emitted OVOCs upon irradiation. Based on the measured OVOC emission rates, we estimate that SOA particles would lose at least ∼1% of their mass over a 24 h period during summertime conditions in Los Angeles, California. This condensed-phase photochemical process may produce a few Tg/year of gaseous formic acid, the amount comparable to its primary sources. The condensed-phase SOA photodegradation processes could therefore measurably affect the budgets of both particulate and gaseous atmospheric organic compounds on a global scale.

This work explores the effect of environmental conditions on the photodegradation rates of atmospherically relevant, photolabile, organic molecules embedded in a film of secondary organic material (SOM). Three types of SOM were studied: α-pinene/O3 SOM (PSOM), limonene/O3 SOM (LSOM), and aged limonene/O3 obtained by exposure of LSOM to ammonia (brown LSOM). PSOM and LSOM were impregnated with 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), an atmospherically relevant molecule that photodegrades faster than either PSOM or LSOM alone, to serve as a probe of SOM matrix effects on photochemistry. Brown LSOM contains an unidentified chromophore that absorbs strongly at 510 nm and photobleaches upon irradiation. This chromophore served as a probe molecule for the brown LSOM experiments. In all experiments, either the temperature or relative humidity (RH) surrounding the SOM films was varied. The extent of photochemical reaction in the samples was monitored using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. For all three model systems examined, the observed photodegradation rates were slower at lower temperatures and lower RH, conditions that make SOM more viscous. Additionally, the activation energies for photodegradation of each system were positively correlated with the viscosity of the SOM matrix as measured in poke-flow experiments. These activation energies were calculated to be 50, 24, and 17 kJ mol−1 for 2,4-DNP in PSOM, 2,4-DNP in LSOM, and the chromophore in brown LSOM, respectively, and PSOM was found to be the most viscous of the three. These results suggest that the increased viscosity is hindering the motion of the molecules in SOM and is slowing down their respective photochemical reactions.

Squalene is a major component of skin and plant surface lipids and is known to be present at high concentrations in indoor dust. Its high reactivity toward ozone makes it an important ozone sink and a natural protectant against atmospheric oxidizing agents. While the volatile products of squalene ozonolysis are known, the condensed-phase products have not been characterized. We present an analysis of condensed-phase products resulting from an extensive oxidation of squalene by ozone probed by electrospray ionization (ESI) high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR–MS). A complex distribution of nearly 1300 peaks assignable to molecular formulas is observed in direct infusion positive ion mode ESI mass spectra. The distribution of peaks in the mass spectra suggests that there are extensive cross-coupling reactions between hydroxy-carbonyl products of squalene ozonolysis. To get additional insights into the mechanism, we apply a Computational Brewing Application (COBRA) to simulate the oxidation of squalene in the presence of ozone, and compare predicted results with those observed by the HR–MS experiments. The system predicts over one billion molecular structures between 0 and 1450 Da, which correspond to about 27 000 distinct elemental formulas. Over 83% of the squalene oxidation products inferred from the mass spectrometry data are matched by the simulation. The simulation indicates a prevalence of peroxy groups, with hydroxyl and ether groups being the second-most important O-containing functional groups formed during squalene oxidation. These highly oxidized products of squalene ozonolysis may accumulate on indoor dust and surfaces and contribute to their redox capacity.

This work presents a systematic investigation of the molecular level composition and the extent of aqueous photochemical processing in different types of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from biogenic and anthropogenic precursors including α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, d-limonene, α-humulene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, and guaiacol, oxidized by ozone (to simulate a remote atmosphere) or by OH in the presence of NOx (to simulate an urban atmosphere). Chamber- and flow-tube-generated SOA samples were collected, extracted in a methanol/water solution, and photolyzed for 1 h under identical irradiation conditions. In these experiments, the irradiation was equivalent to about 3–8 h of exposure to the sun in its zenith. The molecular level composition of the dissolved SOA was probed before and after photolysis with direct-infusion electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-HR-MS). The mass spectra of unphotolyzed SOA generated by ozone oxidation of monoterpenes showed qualitatively similar features and contained largely overlapping subsets of identified compounds. The mass spectra of OH/NOx-generated SOA had more unique visual appearance and indicated a lower extent of product overlap. Furthermore, the fraction of nitrogen-containing species (organonitrates and nitroaromatics) was highly sensitive to the SOA precursor. These observations suggest that attribution of high-resolution mass spectra in field SOA samples to specific SOA precursors should be more straightforward under OH/NOx oxidation conditions compared to the ozone-driven oxidation. Comparison of the SOA constituents before and after photolysis showed the tendency to reduce the average number of atoms in the SOA compounds without a significant effect on the overall O/C and H/C ratios. SOA prepared by OH/NOx photooxidation of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene and guaiacol were more resilient to photolysis despite being the most light-absorbing. The composition of SOA prepared by ozonolysis of monoterpenes changed more significantly as a result of the photolysis. The results indicate that aqueous photolysis of dissolved SOA compounds in cloud/fog water can occur in various types of SOA, and on atmospherically relevant time scales. However, the extent of the photolysis-driven change in molecular composition depends on the specific type of SOA.

Primary and secondary organic aerosols (POA and SOA) contain a complex mixture of multifunctional chemicals, many of which are photolabile. Much of the previous work that aimed to understand the chemical evolution (aging) of POA and SOA has focused on the reactive uptake of gas-phase oxidants by particles. By stripping volatile compounds and ozone from α-pinene ozonolysis SOA with three 1-m-long denuders, and exposing the residual particles in a flow cell to near-ultraviolet (λ>300 nm) radiation, we find that condensed-phase photochemistry can induce significant changes in SOA particle size and chemical composition. The particle-bound organic peroxides, which are highly abundant in α-pinene ozonolysis SOA (22 ± 5% by weight), have an atmospheric photolysis lifetime of about 6 days at a 24-h average solar zenith angle (SZA) of 65° experienced at 34° latitude (Los Angeles) in the summer. In addition, the particle diameter shrinks 0.56% per day under these irradiation conditions as a result of the loss of volatile photolysis products. Experiments with and without the denuders show similar results, suggesting that condensed-phase processes dominate over heterogeneous reactions of particles with organic vapors, excess ozone, and gas-phase free radicals. These condensed-phase photochemical processes occur on atmospherically relevant time scales and should be considered when modeling the evolution of organic aerosol in the atmosphere.

Sources, optical properties, and chemical composition of atmospheric brown carbon (BrC) aerosol are uncertain, making it challenging to estimate its contribution to radiative forcing. Furthermore, optical properties of BrC may change significantly during its atmospheric aging. We examined the effect of photolysis on the molecular composition, mass absorption coefficient, and fluorescence of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) prepared by high-NOx photooxidation of naphthalene (NAP SOA). Our experiments were designed to model photolysis processes of NAP SOA compounds dissolved in cloud or fog droplets. Aqueous solutions of NAP SOA were observed to photobleach (i.e., lose their ability to absorb visible radiation) with an effective half-life of ∼15 h (with sun in its zenith) for the loss of near-UV (300–400 nm) absorbance. The molecular composition of NAP SOA was significantly modified by photolysis, with the average SOA formula changing from C14.1H14.5O5.1N0.085 to C11.8H14.9O4.5N0.023 after 4 h of irradiation. However, the average O/C ratio did not change significantly, suggesting that it is not a good metric for assessing the extent of photolysis-driven aging in NAP SOA (and in BrC in general). In contrast to NAP SOA, the photobleaching of BrC material produced by the reaction of limonene + ozone SOA with ammonia vapor (aged LIM/O3 SOA) was much faster, but it did not result in a significant change in average molecular composition. The characteristic absorbance of the aged LIM/O3 SOA in the 450–600 nm range decayed with an effective half-life of <0.5 h. These results emphasize the highly variable and dynamic nature of different types of atmospheric BrC.

This work focuses on the interaction of water vapor with ionic liquids (ILs) consisting of [CnMIM]+ (n = 2, 4, or 6) cations paired with Cl– or BF4– anions to examine the effect of alkyl chain length on IL hygroscopicity. Tandem nanodifferential mobility analysis (TDMA) and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy were used to study IL nanoparticles and thin films. Studying IL nanoparticles overcomes kinetic limitations potentially present in bulk experiments as true IL–water vapor equilibrium is quickly established. Growth curves recorded in TDMA experiments showed steady uptake of water vapor with increasing RH. ILs containing Cl– absorbed more water than those containing BF4– over the entire RH range, and IL hygroscopicity decreased with increasing alkyl chain length. The intensities of water stretching vibrations in IL thin films exposed to water vapor measured with ATR-FTIR were in qualitative agreement with the TDMA measurements. Water molar fractions for IL nanoparticles were calculated, and the performance of several water activity coefficient models were evaluated by fits to the experimental data. These combined experimental and modeling techniques help provide a more complete picture for these two families of ILs in the presence of water.

This work explores the effect of the environment on the rate of photolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenol (24-DNP), an important environmental toxin. In stark contrast to the slow photolysis of 24-DNP in an aqueous solution, the photolysis rate is increased by more than an order of magnitude for 24-DNP dissolved in 1-octanol or embedded in secondary organic material (SOM) produced by ozonolysis of α-pinene. Lowering the temperature decreased the photolysis rate of 24-DNP in SOM much more significantly than that of 24-DNP in octanol, with effective activation energies of 53 kJ/mol and 12 kJ/mol, respectively. We discuss the possibility that the increasing viscosity of the SOM matrix constrains the molecular motion, thereby suppressing the hydrogen atom transfer reaction to the photo-excited 24-DNP. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of a significant effect of the matrix, and possibly viscosity, on the rate of an atmospheric photochemical reaction within SOM. It suggests that rates of photochemical processes in organic aerosols will depend on both relative humidity and temperature and thus altitude. The results further suggest that photochemistry in SOM may play a key role in transformations of atmospheric organics. For example, 24-DNP and other nitro-aromatic compounds should readily photodegrade in organic particulate matter, which has important consequences for predicting their environmental fates and impacts.

Certain biogenic secondary organic aerosols (SOA) become absorbent and fluorescent when exposed to reduced nitrogen compounds such as ammonia, amines, and their salts. Fluorescent SOA may potentially be mistaken for biological particles by detection methods relying on fluorescence. This work quantifies the spectral distribution and effective quantum yields of fluorescence of water-soluble SOA generated from two monoterpenes, limonene and α-pinene, and two different oxidants, ozone (O3) and hydroxyl radical (OH). The SOA was generated in a smog chamber, collected on substrates, and aged by exposure to ∼100 ppb ammonia in air saturated with water vapor. Absorption and excitation–emission matrix (EEM) spectra of aqueous extracts of aged and control SOA samples were measured, and the effective absorption coefficients and fluorescence quantum yields (∼0.005 for 349 nm excitation) were determined from the data. The strongest fluorescence for the limonene-derived SOA was observed for λexcitation = 420 ± 50 nm and λemission = 475 ± 38 nm. The window of the strongest fluorescence shifted to λexcitation = 320 ± 25 nm and λemission = 425 ± 38 nm for the α-pinene-derived SOA. Both regions overlap with the EEM spectra of some of the fluorophores found in primary biological aerosols. Despite the low quantum yield, the aged SOA particles may have sufficient fluorescence intensities to interfere with the fluorescence detection of common bioaerosols.

Quantitative analysis of individual compounds in complex mixtures using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) is complicated by differences in the ionization efficiencies of analyte molecules, mainly resulting in signal suppression during ionization. However, the ability to obtain concentration estimates of compounds in environmental samples is important for data interpretation and comparison. We introduce an approach for estimating mass concentrations of analytes observed in a multicomponent mixture by HR-ESI-MS, without prior separation. The approach relies, in part, on a matrix-matched calibration of the instrument using appropriate standards added to the analyte matrix. An illustration of how the proposed calibration can be applied in practice is provided for aqueous extracts of isoprene photooxidation secondary organic aerosol, with multifunctional organic acid standards. We show that the observed ion sensitivities in ESI are positively correlated with the “adjusted mass,” defined as a product of the molecular mass and the H/C ratio in the molecule (adjusted mass = H/C × molecular mass). The correlation of the observed ESI sensitivity with adjusted mass is associated with the trends of the physical and chemical properties of organic compounds that affect ionization in the positive ion mode, i.e., gas-phase basicity, polarizability, and molecular size.

Direct aqueous photolysis of cis-pinonic acid (PA; 2-(3-acetyl-2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)acetic acid; CAS Registry No. 473-72-3) by 280–400 nm radiation was investigated. The photolysis resulted in Norrish type II isomerization of PA leading to 3-isopropenyl-6-oxoheptanoic acid (CAS Registry No. 4436-82-2), also known as limononic acid, as the major product, confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR analysis, chemical ionization mass spectrometry, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Several minor products resulting from Norrish type I splitting of PA were also detected. The molar extinction coefficients of aqueous PA were measured and used to calculate the photolysis quantum yield of aqueous PA as 0.5 ± 0.3 (effective average value over the 280–400 nm range). The gas-phase photolysis quantum yield of 0.53 ± 0.06 for PA methyl ester (PAMe; CAS Registry No. 16978-11-3) was also measured for comparison. These results indicate that photolysis of PA is not significantly suppressed by the presence of water. This fact was confirmed by photodissociation dynamics simulations of bare PA and of PAMe hydrated with one or five water molecules using on-the-fly dynamics simulations on a semiempirical potential energy surface. The calculations correctly predicted the occurrence of both Norrish type I and Norrish type II photolysis pathways, both driven by the dynamics on the lowest triplet excited state of PA and PAMe. The rate of removal of PA by direct aqueous photolysis in cloudwater and in aerosol water was calculated for a range of solar zenith angles and compared with rates of other removal processes such as gas-phase oxidation by OH, aqueous-phase oxidation by OH, and gas-phase photolysis. Although the direct photolysis mechanism was not the most significant sink for PA in cloud and fog droplets, direct photolysis can be expected to contribute to removal of PA and more soluble/less volatile biogenic oxidation products in wet particulate matter.

Atmospheric organic aerosols (OA) represent a significant fraction of airborne particulate matter and can impact climate, visibility, and human health. These mixtures are difficult to characterize experimentally due to their complex and dynamic chemical composition. We introduce a novel Computational Brewing Application (COBRA) and apply it to modeling oligomerization chemistry stemming from condensation and addition reactions in OA formed by photooxidation of isoprene. COBRA uses two lists as input: a list of chemical structures comprising the molecular starting pool and a list of rules defining potential reactions between molecules. Reactions are performed iteratively, with products of all previous iterations serving as reactants for the next. The simulation generated thousands of structures in the mass range of 120–500 Da and correctly predicted ∼70% of the individual OA constituents observed by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Select predicted structures were confirmed with tandem mass spectrometry. Esterification was shown to play the most significant role in oligomer formation, with hemiacetal formation less important, and aldol condensation insignificant. COBRA is not limited to atmospheric aerosol chemistry; it should be applicable to the prediction of reaction products in other complex mixtures for which reasonable reaction mechanisms and seed molecules can be supplied by experimental or theoretical methods.

The applicability of high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR ESI-MS) to measurements of the average oxygen to carbon ratio (O/C) in secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) was investigated. Solutions with known average O/C containing up to 10 standard compounds representative of low-molecular-weight SOA constituents were analyzed and the corresponding electrospray ionization efficiencies were quantified. The assumption of equal ionization efficiency commonly used in estimating O/C ratios of SOAs was found to be reasonably accurate. We found that the accuracy of the measured O/C ratios increases by averaging the values obtained from both the posive and negative modes. A correlation was found between the ratio of the ionization efficiencies in the positive (+) and negative (−) ESI modes and the octanol–water partition constant and, more importantly, the compound’s O/C. To demonstrate the utility of this correlation for estimating average O/C values of unknown mixtures, we analyzed the ESI (+) and ESI (−) data for SOAs produced by oxidation of limonene and isoprene and compared them online to O/C measurements using an aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). This work demonstrates that the accuracy of the HR ESI-MS method is comparable to that of the AMS with the added benefit of molecular identification of the aerosol constituents.

Understanding the interactions of humid air with ionic liquids (ILs) is critical for predicting how their physicochemical properties are affected by water. Using experimental and theoretical techniques, water vapor’s interaction with aerosolized nanoparticles and thin films of [C2MIM][Cl] and [C2MIM][BF4] was studied. Solutions were electrosprayed to produce dry particles. Particles’ hygroscopic growth was quantified using tandem nanodifferential mobility analysis as a function of relative humidity (RH). This is the first report of the interaction of water with aerosolized IL nanoparticles. The particles’ small size allows true IL–water vapor equilibrium achieved quickly. Growth curves for both ILs show steady water uptake with increasing RH. Water vapor uptake by IL thin films was also examined using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Both experimental methods show [C2MIM][Cl] absorbs more water vapor than [C2MIM][BF4] over the entire RH range. Water molar fractions, calculated from growth curves, agreed well with those estimated from ATR-FTIR data. MD simulations, used to model IL–water interactions, revealed strong interactions between [Cl–] and water and considerably weaker interactions between [BF4–] and water. Widths and position of O–H stretching vibrations from MD simulations qualitatively reproduced ATR-FTIR results. These experimental and theoretical data provide a comprehensive picture of the behavior of absorbed water in ILs.

Methyl peroxide (CH3OOH) is commonly found in atmospheric waters and ices in significant concentrations. It is the simplest organic peroxide and an important precursor to hydroxyl radical. Many studies have examined the photochemical behavior of gaseous CH3OOH; however, the photochemistry of liquid and frozen water solutions is poorly understood. We present a series of experiments and theoretical calculations designed to elucidate the photochemical behavior of CH3OOH dissolved in liquid water and ice over a range of temperatures. The molar extinction coefficients of aqueous CH3OOH are different from the gas phase, and they do not change upon freezing. Between −12 and 43 °C, the quantum yield of CH3OOH photolysis is described by the following equation: Φ(T) = exp((−2175 ± 448)1/T) + 7.66 ± 1.56). We use on-the-fly ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to model structures and absorption spectra of a bare CH3OOH molecule and a CH3OOH molecule immersed inside 20 water molecules at 50, 200, and 220 K. The simulations predict large sensitivity in the absorption spectrum of CH3OOH to temperature, with the spectrum narrowing and shifting to the blue under cryogenic conditions because of constrained dihedral motion around the O–O bond. The shift in the absorption spectrum is not observed in the experiment when the CH3OOH solution is frozen suggesting that CH3OOH remains in a liquid layer between the ice grains. Using the extinction coefficients and photolysis quantum yields obtained in this work, we show that under conditions with low temperatures, in the presence of clouds with a high liquid–water content and large solar zenith angles, the loss of CH3OOH by aqueous photolysis is responsible for up to 20% of the total loss of CH3OOH due to photolysis. Gas phase photolysis of CH3OOH dominates under all other conditions.

Electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (ESI HR-MS) was used to probe molecular structures of oligomers in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) generated in laboratory experiments on isoprene photooxidation at low- and high-NOx conditions. Approximately 80–90% of the observed products are oligomers and up to 33% by number are nitrogen-containing organic compounds (NOC). We observe oligomers with maximum 8 monomer units in length. Tandem mass spectrometry (MSn) confirms NOC compounds are organic nitrates and elucidates plausible chemical building blocks contributing to oligomer formation. Most organic nitrates are comprised of methylglyceric acid units. Other important multifunctional C2–C5 monomer units are identified including methylglyoxal, hydroxyacetone, hydroxyacetic acid, and glycolaldehyde. Although the molar fraction of NOC in the high-NOx SOA is high, the majority of the NOC oligomers contain only one nitrate moiety resulting in a low average N:C ratio of 0.019. Average O:C ratios of the detected SOA compounds are 0.54 under the low-NOx conditions and 0.83 under the high-NOx conditions. Our results underscore the importance of isoprene photooxidation as a source of NOC in organic particulate matter.

The effect of UV irradiation on the molecular composition of aqueous extracts of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was investigated. SOA was prepared by the dark reaction of ozone and d-limonene at 0.05–1 ppm precursor concentrations and collected with a particle-into-liquid sampler (PILS). The PILS extracts were photolyzed by 300–400 nm radiation for up to 24 h. Water-soluble SOA constituents were analyzed using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) at different stages of photolysis for all SOA precursor concentrations. Exposure to UV radiation increased the average O/C ratio and decreased the average double bond equivalent (DBE) of the dissolved SOA compounds. Oligomeric compounds were significantly decreased by photolysis relative to the monomeric compounds. Direct pH measurements showed that acidic compounds increased in abundance upon photolysis. Methanol reactivity analysis revealed significant photodissociation of molecules containing carbonyl groups and the formation of carboxylic acids. Aldehydes, such as limononaldehyde, were almost completely removed. The removal of carbonyls was further confirmed by the UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy of the SOA extracts where the absorbance in the carbonyln → π* band decreased significantly upon photolysis. The effective quantum yield (the number of carbonyls destroyed per photon absorbed) was estimated as ∼0.03. The total concentration of peroxides did not change significantly during photolysis as quantified with an iodometric test. Although organic peroxides were photolyzed, the likely end products of photolysis were smaller peroxides, including hydrogen peroxide, resulting in a no net change in the peroxide content. Photolysis of dry limonene SOA deposited on substrates was investigated in a separate set of experiments. The observed effects on the average O/C and DBE were similar to the aqueous photolysis, but the extent of chemical change was smaller in dry SOA. Our results suggest that biogenic SOA dissolved in cloud and fog droplets will undergo significant photolytic processing on a time scale of hours to days. This type of photolytic processing may account for the discrepancy between the higher values of O/C measured in the field experiments relative to the laboratory measurements on SOA in smog chambers. In addition, the direct photolysis of oligomeric compounds may be responsible for the scarcity of their observation in the field.

This work demonstrates the utility of a particle-into-liquid sampler (PILS), a technique traditionally used for identification of inorganic ions present in ambient or laboratory aerosols, for the analysis of water-soluble organic aerosol (OA) using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS). Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was produced from 0.5 ppm mixing ratios of limonene and ozone in a 5 m3 Teflon chamber. SOA was collected simultaneously using a traditional filter sampler and a PILS. The filter samples were later extracted with either water or acetonitrile, while the aqueous PILS samples were analyzed directly. In terms of peak abundances, types of detectable compounds, average O/C ratios, and organic mass to organic carbon ratios, the resulting high-resolution mass spectra were essentially identical for the PILS and filter based samples. SOA compounds extracted from both filter/acetonitrile extraction and PILS/water extraction accounted for >95% of the total ion current in the ESI mass spectra. This similarity was attributed to high solubility of limonene SOA in water. In contrast, significant differences in detected ions and peak abundances were observed for pine needle biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA) collected with PILS and filter sampling. The water-soluble fraction of BBOA is considerably smaller than for SOA, and a number of unique peaks were detectable only by the filter/acetonitrile method. The combination of PILS collection with HR-ESI-MS analysis offers a new approach for molecular analysis of the water-soluble organic fraction in biogenic SOA, aged photochemical smog, and BBOA.

Several complementary experimental and theoretical methodologies were used to explore water uptake on sodium chloride (NaCl) particles containing varying amounts of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to elucidate the interaction of water with well-defined, environmentally relevant surfaces. Experiments probed the hygroscopic growth of mixed SDS/NaCl nanoparticles that were generated by electrospraying aqueous 2 g/L solutions containing SDS and NaCl with relative NaCl/SDS weight fractions of 0, 5, 11, 23, or 50 wt/wt %. Particles with mobility-equivalent diameters of 14.0(±0.2) nm were size selected and their hygroscopic growth was monitored by a tandem nano-differential mobility analyzer as a function of relative humidity (RH). Nanoparticles generated from 0 and 5 wt/wt % solutions deliquesced abruptly at 79.1(±1.0)% RH. Both of these nanoparticle compositions had 3.1(±0.5) monolayers of adsorbed surface water prior to deliquescing and showed good agreement with the Brunauer−Emmett−Teller and the Frenkel−Halsey−Hill isotherms. Above the deliquescence point, the growth curves could be qualitatively described by Köhler theory after appropriately accounting for the effect of the particle shape on mobility. The SDS/NaCl nanoparticles with larger SDS fractions displayed gradual deliquescence at a RH that was significantly lower than 79.1%. All compositions of SDS/NaCl nanoparticles had monotonically suppressed mobility growth factors (GFm) with increasing fractions of SDS in the electrosprayed solutions. The Zdanovskii−Stokes−Robinson model was used to estimate the actual fractions of SDS and NaCl in the nanoparticles; it suggested the nanoparticles were enhanced in SDS relative to their electrospray solution concentrations. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), FTIR, and AFM were consistent with SDS forming first a monolayer and then a crystalline phase around the NaCl core. Molecular dynamics simulations of water vapor interacting with SDS/NaCl slabs showed that SDS kinetically hinders the initial water uptake. Large binding energies of sodium methyl sulfate (SMS)−(NaCl)4, H2O−(NaCl)4, and SMS−H2O−(NaCl)4 calculated at the MP2/cc-pVDZ level suggested that placing H2O in between NaCl and surfactant headgroup is energetically favorable. These results provide a comprehensive description of SDS/NaCl nanoparticles and their properties.

Molecular composition of limonene/O3 secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was investigated using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) as a function of reaction time. SOA was generated by ozonation of D-limonene in a reaction chamber and sampled at different time intervals using a cascade impactor. The SOA samples were extracted into acetonitrile and analyzed using a HR-ESI-MS instrument with a resolving power of 100000 (m/Δm). The resulting mass spectra provided detailed information about the extent of oxidation inferred from the O:C ratios, double bond equivalency (DBE) factors, and aromaticity index (AI) values in hundreds of identified individual SOA species. The chemical composition of SOA was approximately the same for all size-fractionated samples studied in this experiment (0.05 to 0.5 μm range). The SOA constituents quickly reached an average O:C ratio of 0.43, which grew to 0.46 after one hour of additional oxidation of particles by the excess ozone. The dominant mechanism of oligomerization, inferred from high resolution ESI-MS data, was reaction between Criegee intermediates and stable first-generation products of limonene ozonolysis. Although the SOA composition was dominated by various oxidized aliphatic compounds, a small fraction of products appeared to contain aromatic rings. SOA generation was also studied in the presence of UV radiation and at elevated relative humidity (RH). The presence of UV radiation had a negligible effect on the SOA composition. The presence of water vapor resulted in a slight redistribution of peak intensities in the mass spectrum likely arising from hydration of certain SOA constituents. The data are consistent with fast production of the first-generation SOA constituents, including oligomers, followed by very slow aging processes that have a relatively small effect on the average molecular composition on the timescale of our experiments.

Aerosolized nanoparticles of NaCl coated with variable amounts of surfactant AOT were generated by electrospraying AOT/NaCl aqueous solutions, followed by neutralizing and drying the resulting particles. A tandem differential mobility analyzer was used to select a narrow size distribution of particles with mobility equivalent diameters below 20 nm and monitor their hygroscopic growth as a function of relative humidity. Effects of the particle size and relative amount of surfactant on the hygroscopic growth of NaCl were studied. For pure NaCl nanoparticles, the deliquescence relative humidity (DRH) increased as the particle size was decreased, in full agreement with previous measurements. Below the DRH the NaCl nanoparticles had an equivalent of one−four monolayers of water adsorbed on the surface. The addition of a sub-monolayer AOT coating reduced the DRH and suppressed the hygroscopic growth of the NaCl core. At AOT coverage levels exceeding one monolayer, a clear deliquescence transition was no longer discernible. The Zdanovskii−Stokes−Robinson (ZSR) model failed to predict the observed growth factors of mixed AOT/NaCl nanoparticles reflecting a large contribution of the interfacial interactions between NaCl and AOT to the total free energy of the particles. There were indications that AOT/NaCl nanoparticles prepared by the electrospray aerosol source were enhanced in the relative mass fraction of AOT in comparison with the solution from which they were electrosprayed.

The double bond-to-ozone reaction stoichiometry was quantified for ozonation of several environmentally relevant unsaturated fatty acids and monoterpenes in saturated hydrocarbon solvents. Olefins with initial concentrations from 30 µM to 3 mM were injected in a solvent (n-hexadecane, nonane, or cyclohexane) while an ozone-oxygen mixture was slowly bubbled through the solution. The number of ozone molecules consumed by the injection was quantified in the outgoing flow, and the expected 1:1 double bond-to-ozone reaction stoichiometry was observed only under subambient temperature conditions (T < 250 K). At room temperature, the effective number of double bonds oxidized by each ozone molecule increased to 2−5, with a higher degree of oxidation occurring at lower initial olefin concentrations. The observed enhancement in the stoichiometry is consistent with a competition between direct ozonation and free radical initiated oxidation of double bonds, with free radicals being produced by slow reactions between dissolved ozone and solvent molecules.

This study examined the effect of solvent on the analysis of organic aerosol extracts using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) produced by ozonation of d-limonene, as well as several organic molecules with functional groups typical for OA constituents, were extracted in methanol, d3-methanol, acetonitrile, and d3-acetonitrile to investigate the extent and relative rates of reactions between analyte and solvent. High resolution ESI-MS showed that reactions of carbonyls with methanol produce significant amounts of hemiacetals and acetals on time scales ranging from several minutes to several days, with the reaction rates increasing in acidified solutions. Carboxylic acid groups were observed to react with methanol resulting in the formation of esters. In contrast, acetonitrile extracts showed no evidence of reactions with analyte molecules, suggesting that acetonitrile is the preferred solvent for SOA extraction. The use of solvent−analyte reactivity as a tool for the improved characterization of functional groups in complex organic mixtures was demonstrated. Direct comparison between mass spectra of the same SOA samples extracted in methanol versus acetonitrile was used to estimate the lower limits for the relative fractions of carbonyls (≥42%) and carboxylic acids (≥55%) in d-limonene SOA.

The photodegradation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) material by actinic UV radiation was investigated. SOA was generated via the dark reaction of ozone and d-limonene, collected onto quartz-fiber filters, and exposed to wavelength-tunable radiation. Photochemical production of CO was monitored in situ by infrared cavity ring-down spectroscopy. A number of additional gas-phase products of SOA photodegradation were observed by gas chromatography, including methane, ethene, acetaldehyde, acetone, methanol, and 1-butene. The absorption spectrum of SOA material collected onto CaF2 windows was measured and compared with the photolysis action spectrum for the release of CO, a marker for Norrish type-I photocleavage of carbonyls. Both spectra had a band at ∼300 nm corresponding to the overlapping n → π* transitions in nonconjugated carbonyls. The effective extinction coefficient of freshly prepared SOA was estimated to be on the order of 15 L mol−1 cm−1 at 300 nm, implying one carbonyl group in every SOA constituent. The absorption by the SOA material slowly increased in the visible and near-UV during storage of SOA in open air in the dark, presumably as a result of condensation reactions that increased the degree of conjugation in the SOA constituents. These observations suggest that photolysis of carbonyl functional groups represents a significant sink for monoterpene SOA compounds in the troposphere, with an estimated lifetime of several hours over the continental United States.

Photolysis of alkene-terminated self assembled monolayers (SAM) deposited on Degussa SiO2 nanoparticles is studied following oxidation of SAM with a gaseous ozone/oxygen mixture. Infrared cavity ring-down spectroscopy is used to observe gas-phase products generated during ozonolysis and subsequent photolysis of SAM in real time. Reactions taking place during ozonolysis transform alkene-terminated SAM into a photochemically active state capable of photolysis in the tropospheric actinic window (λ > 295 nm). Formaldehyde and formic acid are the observed photolysis products. Photodissociation action spectra of oxidized SAM and the observed pattern of gas-phase products are consistent with the well-established Criegee mechanism of ozonolysis of terminal alkenes. There is strong evidence for the presence of secondary ozonides (1,3,4-trioxalones) and other peroxides on the oxidized SAM surface. The data imply that photolysis plays a role in atmospheric aging of primary and secondary organic aerosol particles.

Quantitative analysis of individual compounds in complex mixtures using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) is complicated by differences in the ionization efficiencies of analyte molecules, mainly resulting in signal suppression during ionization. However, the ability to obtain concentration estimates of compounds in environmental samples is important for data interpretation and comparison. We introduce an approach for estimating mass concentrations of analytes observed in a multicomponent mixture by HR-ESI-MS, without prior separation. The approach relies, in part, on a matrix-matched calibration of the instrument using appropriate standards added to the analyte matrix. An illustration of how the proposed calibration can be applied in practice is provided for aqueous extracts of isoprene photooxidation secondary organic aerosol, with multifunctional organic acid standards. We show that the observed ion sensitivities in ESI are positively correlated with the “adjusted mass,” defined as a product of the molecular mass and the H/C ratio in the molecule (adjusted mass = H/C × molecular mass). The correlation of the observed ESI sensitivity with adjusted mass is associated with the trends of the physical and chemical properties of organic compounds that affect ionization in the positive ion mode, i.e., gas-phase basicity, polarizability, and molecular size.

This work explores the effect of environmental conditions on the photodegradation rates of atmospherically relevant, photolabile, organic molecules embedded in a film of secondary organic material (SOM). Three types of SOM were studied: α-pinene/O3 SOM (PSOM), limonene/O3 SOM (LSOM), and aged limonene/O3 obtained by exposure of LSOM to ammonia (brown LSOM). PSOM and LSOM were impregnated with 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), an atmospherically relevant molecule that photodegrades faster than either PSOM or LSOM alone, to serve as a probe of SOM matrix effects on photochemistry. Brown LSOM contains an unidentified chromophore that absorbs strongly at 510 nm and photobleaches upon irradiation. This chromophore served as a probe molecule for the brown LSOM experiments. In all experiments, either the temperature or relative humidity (RH) surrounding the SOM films was varied. The extent of photochemical reaction in the samples was monitored using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. For all three model systems examined, the observed photodegradation rates were slower at lower temperatures and lower RH, conditions that make SOM more viscous. Additionally, the activation energies for photodegradation of each system were positively correlated with the viscosity of the SOM matrix as measured in poke-flow experiments. These activation energies were calculated to be 50, 24, and 17 kJ mol−1 for 2,4-DNP in PSOM, 2,4-DNP in LSOM, and the chromophore in brown LSOM, respectively, and PSOM was found to be the most viscous of the three. These results suggest that the increased viscosity is hindering the motion of the molecules in SOM and is slowing down their respective photochemical reactions.

The effect of UV irradiation on the molecular composition of aqueous extracts of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was investigated. SOA was prepared by the dark reaction of ozone and d-limonene at 0.05–1 ppm precursor concentrations and collected with a particle-into-liquid sampler (PILS). The PILS extracts were photolyzed by 300–400 nm radiation for up to 24 h. Water-soluble SOA constituents were analyzed using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) at different stages of photolysis for all SOA precursor concentrations. Exposure to UV radiation increased the average O/C ratio and decreased the average double bond equivalent (DBE) of the dissolved SOA compounds. Oligomeric compounds were significantly decreased by photolysis relative to the monomeric compounds. Direct pH measurements showed that acidic compounds increased in abundance upon photolysis. Methanol reactivity analysis revealed significant photodissociation of molecules containing carbonyl groups and the formation of carboxylic acids. Aldehydes, such as limononaldehyde, were almost completely removed. The removal of carbonyls was further confirmed by the UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy of the SOA extracts where the absorbance in the carbonyln → π* band decreased significantly upon photolysis. The effective quantum yield (the number of carbonyls destroyed per photon absorbed) was estimated as ∼0.03. The total concentration of peroxides did not change significantly during photolysis as quantified with an iodometric test. Although organic peroxides were photolyzed, the likely end products of photolysis were smaller peroxides, including hydrogen peroxide, resulting in a no net change in the peroxide content. Photolysis of dry limonene SOA deposited on substrates was investigated in a separate set of experiments. The observed effects on the average O/C and DBE were similar to the aqueous photolysis, but the extent of chemical change was smaller in dry SOA. Our results suggest that biogenic SOA dissolved in cloud and fog droplets will undergo significant photolytic processing on a time scale of hours to days. This type of photolytic processing may account for the discrepancy between the higher values of O/C measured in the field experiments relative to the laboratory measurements on SOA in smog chambers. In addition, the direct photolysis of oligomeric compounds may be responsible for the scarcity of their observation in the field.

Molecular composition of limonene/O3 secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was investigated using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) as a function of reaction time. SOA was generated by ozonation of D-limonene in a reaction chamber and sampled at different time intervals using a cascade impactor. The SOA samples were extracted into acetonitrile and analyzed using a HR-ESI-MS instrument with a resolving power of 100000 (m/Δm). The resulting mass spectra provided detailed information about the extent of oxidation inferred from the O:C ratios, double bond equivalency (DBE) factors, and aromaticity index (AI) values in hundreds of identified individual SOA species. The chemical composition of SOA was approximately the same for all size-fractionated samples studied in this experiment (0.05 to 0.5 μm range). The SOA constituents quickly reached an average O:C ratio of 0.43, which grew to 0.46 after one hour of additional oxidation of particles by the excess ozone. The dominant mechanism of oligomerization, inferred from high resolution ESI-MS data, was reaction between Criegee intermediates and stable first-generation products of limonene ozonolysis. Although the SOA composition was dominated by various oxidized aliphatic compounds, a small fraction of products appeared to contain aromatic rings. SOA generation was also studied in the presence of UV radiation and at elevated relative humidity (RH). The presence of UV radiation had a negligible effect on the SOA composition. The presence of water vapor resulted in a slight redistribution of peak intensities in the mass spectrum likely arising from hydration of certain SOA constituents. The data are consistent with fast production of the first-generation SOA constituents, including oligomers, followed by very slow aging processes that have a relatively small effect on the average molecular composition on the timescale of our experiments.