Effect of salt seed particle surface area, composition and phase on secondary organic aerosol mass yields in oxidation flow reactors

<p>Atmospheric particulate water is ubiquitous, affecting particle transport and uptake of gases. Yet, research on the effect of water on secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mass yields is not consistent. In this study, the SOA mass yields of an <span class="inline-formula"><i&g...

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Main Authors: E. Ahlberg, A. Eriksson, W. H. Brune, P. Roldin, B. Svenningsson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2019-03-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/19/2701/2019/acp-19-2701-2019.pdf
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spelling doaj-10bc94eb06024bd08f5a9797922ddc202020-11-25T01:32:47ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242019-03-01192701271210.5194/acp-19-2701-2019Effect of salt seed particle surface area, composition and phase on secondary organic aerosol mass yields in oxidation flow reactorsE. Ahlberg0E. Ahlberg1A. Eriksson2W. H. Brune3P. Roldin4B. Svenningsson5Centre for Environmental and Climate Research, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 52 Lund, SwedenDivision of Nuclear Physics, Lund University, Box 118, 221 00 Lund, SwedenErgonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, Box 118, 221 00 Lund, SwedenDepartment of Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USADivision of Nuclear Physics, Lund University, Box 118, 221 00 Lund, SwedenDivision of Nuclear Physics, Lund University, Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden<p>Atmospheric particulate water is ubiquitous, affecting particle transport and uptake of gases. Yet, research on the effect of water on secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mass yields is not consistent. In this study, the SOA mass yields of an <span class="inline-formula"><i>α</i></span>-pinene and m-xylene mixture, at a concentration of 60&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">µ</span>g&thinsp;m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span>, were examined using an oxidation flow reactor operated at a relative humidity (RH) of 60&thinsp;% and a residence time of 160&thinsp;s. Wet or dried ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate seed particles were used. By varying the amount of seed particle surface area, the underestimation of SOA formation induced by the short residence time in flow reactors was confirmed. Starting at a SOA mass concentration of <span class="inline-formula">∼5</span>&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">µ</span>g&thinsp;m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span>, the maximum yield increased by a factor of <span class="inline-formula">∼2</span> with dry seed particles and on average a factor of 3.2 with wet seed particles. Hence, wet particles increased the SOA mass yield by <span class="inline-formula">∼60</span>&thinsp;% compared to the dry experiment. Maximum yield in the reactor was achieved using a surface area concentration of <span class="inline-formula">∼1600</span>&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">µ</span>m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>2</sup></span>&thinsp;cm<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span>. This corresponded to a condensational lifetime of 20&thinsp;s for low-volatility organics. The <span class="inline-formula">O:C</span> ratio of SOA on wet ammonium sulfate was significantly higher than when using ammonium nitrate or dry ammonium sulfate seed particles, probably due to differences in heterogeneous chemistry.</p>https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/19/2701/2019/acp-19-2701-2019.pdf
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author E. Ahlberg
E. Ahlberg
A. Eriksson
W. H. Brune
P. Roldin
B. Svenningsson
spellingShingle E. Ahlberg
E. Ahlberg
A. Eriksson
W. H. Brune
P. Roldin
B. Svenningsson
Effect of salt seed particle surface area, composition and phase on secondary organic aerosol mass yields in oxidation flow reactors
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
author_facet E. Ahlberg
E. Ahlberg
A. Eriksson
W. H. Brune
P. Roldin
B. Svenningsson
author_sort E. Ahlberg
title Effect of salt seed particle surface area, composition and phase on secondary organic aerosol mass yields in oxidation flow reactors
title_short Effect of salt seed particle surface area, composition and phase on secondary organic aerosol mass yields in oxidation flow reactors
title_full Effect of salt seed particle surface area, composition and phase on secondary organic aerosol mass yields in oxidation flow reactors
title_fullStr Effect of salt seed particle surface area, composition and phase on secondary organic aerosol mass yields in oxidation flow reactors
title_full_unstemmed Effect of salt seed particle surface area, composition and phase on secondary organic aerosol mass yields in oxidation flow reactors
title_sort effect of salt seed particle surface area, composition and phase on secondary organic aerosol mass yields in oxidation flow reactors
publisher Copernicus Publications
series Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
issn 1680-7316
1680-7324
publishDate 2019-03-01
description <p>Atmospheric particulate water is ubiquitous, affecting particle transport and uptake of gases. Yet, research on the effect of water on secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mass yields is not consistent. In this study, the SOA mass yields of an <span class="inline-formula"><i>α</i></span>-pinene and m-xylene mixture, at a concentration of 60&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">µ</span>g&thinsp;m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span>, were examined using an oxidation flow reactor operated at a relative humidity (RH) of 60&thinsp;% and a residence time of 160&thinsp;s. Wet or dried ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate seed particles were used. By varying the amount of seed particle surface area, the underestimation of SOA formation induced by the short residence time in flow reactors was confirmed. Starting at a SOA mass concentration of <span class="inline-formula">∼5</span>&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">µ</span>g&thinsp;m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span>, the maximum yield increased by a factor of <span class="inline-formula">∼2</span> with dry seed particles and on average a factor of 3.2 with wet seed particles. Hence, wet particles increased the SOA mass yield by <span class="inline-formula">∼60</span>&thinsp;% compared to the dry experiment. Maximum yield in the reactor was achieved using a surface area concentration of <span class="inline-formula">∼1600</span>&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula">µ</span>m<span class="inline-formula"><sup>2</sup></span>&thinsp;cm<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−3</sup></span>. This corresponded to a condensational lifetime of 20&thinsp;s for low-volatility organics. The <span class="inline-formula">O:C</span> ratio of SOA on wet ammonium sulfate was significantly higher than when using ammonium nitrate or dry ammonium sulfate seed particles, probably due to differences in heterogeneous chemistry.</p>
url https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/19/2701/2019/acp-19-2701-2019.pdf
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