Heterogeneous Reactions of Acetic Acid with Oxide Surfaces: Effects of Mineralogy and Relative Humidity

Design and Understanding of Adaptive Hydrogenation Catalysts Triggered by the H2/CO2-Formic Acid Equilibrium

An adaptive catalytic system for selective hydrogenation was developed exploiting the H2 + CO2 ⇔  HCOOH equilibrium for reversible, rapid, and robust on/off switch of the ketone hydrogenation activity of ruthenium nanoparticles (Ru NPs). The catalyst design was based on mechanistic studies and DFT calculations demonstrating that adsorption of formic acid to Ru NPs on silica results in surface formate species that prevent C═O hydrogenation. Ru NPs were immobilized on readily accessible silica supports modified with guanidinium-based ionic liquid phases (Ru@SILPGB) to generate in situ sufficient amounts of HCOOH when CO2 was introduced into the H2 feed gas for switching off ketone hydrogenation while maintaining the activity for hydrogenation of olefinic and aromatic C═C bonds. Upon shutting down the CO2 supply, the C═O hydrogenation activity was restored in real time due to the rapid decarboxylation of the surface formate species without the need for any changes in the reaction conditions. Thus, the newly developed Ru@SILPGB catalysts allow controlled and alternating production of either saturated alcohols or ketones from unsaturated substrates depending on the use of H2 or H2/CO2 as feed gas. The major prerequisite for design of adaptive catalytic systems based on CO2 as trigger is the ability to shift the H2 + CO2 ⇔  HCOOH equilibrium sufficiently to exploit competing adsorption of surface formate and targeted functional groups. Thus, the concept can be expected to be more generally applicable beyond ruthenium as the active metal, paving the way for next-generation adaptive catalytic systems in hydrogenation reactions more broadly.

Spectral Characteristics of Unsaturated and Supersaturated Inorganic Aerosols: Insights into Deliquescence Kinetics

The deliquescence phase transition of atmospheric aerosols is crucial for radiative forcing and atmospheric chemistry. However, the deliquescence kinetics of micrometer-sized aerosols, especially the formation and evolution of surface solution films, remain poorly understood. In this study, IR spectral characteristics were employed for the first time to quantify the solute concentration evolution in surface solution films. At a constant relative humidity (RH) of ∼65%, solution films on NaCl crystals exhibited a very low solute concentration (3.06 ± 0.18 mol/L), comparable to aqueous NaCl droplets above 90% RH. These films reached saturation at ∼74% RH, i.e., the deliquescence RH of NaCl, maintaining a nearly constant saturation level during deliquescence. In contrast, amorphous NaNO3 solids showed supersaturated solution films before deliquescence. Following deliquescence, the saturation level of solution phases increased due to faster solid dissolution rates than liquid water condensation. These findings address knowledge gaps in the complex nonequilibrium dissolution processes of crystalline or amorphous atmospheric aerosols.

Heterogeneous Reactions of Phenol on Different Components of Mineral Dust Aerosol: Formation of Oxidized Organic and Nitro-Phenolic Compounds

Phenol, a common semi-volatile compound associated with different emissions including from plants and biomass burning, as well as anthropogenic emissions and its derivatives, are important components of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). Gas and aqueous phase reactions of phenol, in the presence of photochemical drivers, are fairly well understood. However, despite observations showing aromatic content within SOA size and mass increases during dust episodes, the heterogeneous reactions of phenol with mineral dusts are poorly understood. In the current study, surface reactions of phenol at the gas/solid interface with different components of mineral dust including SiO2, α-Fe2O3, and TiO2 have been investigated. Whereas reversible surface adsorption of phenol occurs on SiO2 surfaces, for both α-Fe2O3 and TiO2 surfaces, phenol reacts to form a wide range of OH substituted aromatic products. For α-Fe2O3 surfaces that have been nitrated by gas-phase reactions of nitric acid prior to exposure to phenol, unique compounds form on the surface including nitro-phenolic compounds. Moreover, additional surface chemistry was observed when adsorbed nitro-phenolic products were exposed to gas-phase SO2 as a result of the formation of adsorbed nitrite from nitrate redox chemistry with adsorbed SO2. Overall, this study reveals the extensive chemistry as well as the complexity of reactions of prevalent organic compounds leading to the formation of SOA on mineral surfaces.

Investigating the effect of volatility on the hygroscopicities of acetate nanoparticle aerosols by surface plasmon resonance microscopy

Under high relative humidity (RH) conditions, the release of volatile components (such as acetate) has a significant impact on the aerosol hygroscopicity. In this work, one surface plasmon resonance microscopy (SPRM) measurement system was introduced to determine the hygroscopic growth factors (GFs) of three acetate aerosols separately or mixed with glucose at different RHs. For Ca(CH3COO)2 or Mg(CH3COO)2 aerosols, the hygroscopic growth trend of each time was lower than that of the previous time in three cyclic humidification from 70% RH to 90% RH, which may be due to the volatility of acetic acid leading to the formation of insoluble hydroxide (Ca(OH)2 or Mg(OH)2) under high RH conditions. Then the third calculated GF (using the Zdanovskii-Stokes-Robinson method) for Ca(CH3COO)2 or Mg(CH3COO)2 in bicomponent aerosols with 1:1 mass ratio were 3.20% or 5.33% lower than that of the first calculated GF at 90% RH. The calculated results also showed that the hygroscopicity change of bicomponent aerosol was negatively correlated with glucose content, especially when the mass ratio of Mg(CH3COO)2 to glucose was 1:2, the GF at 90% RH only decreased by 4.67% after three cyclic humidification. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrum (ICP-AES) based measurements also indicated that the changes of Mg2+concentration in bicomponent was lower than that of the single-component. The results of this study reveal thatduring the efflorescence transitions of atmospheric nanoparticles, the organic acids diffusion rate may be inhibited by the coating effect of neutral organic components, and the particles aging cycle will be prolonged.

Formic and acetic acid pKa values increase under nanoconfinement

Organic acids are prevalent in the environment and their acidity and the corresponding dissociation constants can change under varying environmental conditions. The impact of nanoconfinement (when acids are confined within nanometer-scale domains) on physicochemical properties of chemical species is poorly understood and is an emerging field of study. By combining infrared and Raman spectroscopies with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we quantified the effect of nanoconfinement in silica nanopores on one of the fundamental chemical reactions-the dissociation of organic acids. The pKa of formic and acetic acids confined within cylindrical silica nanopores with 4 nm diameters were measured. MD models were constructed to calculate the shifts in the pKa values of acetic acid nanoconfined within 1, 2, 3, and 4 nm silica slit pores. Both experiments and MD models indicate a decrease in the apparent acid dissociation constants (i.e., increase in the pKa values) when organic acids are nanoconfined. Therefore, nanoconfinement stabilizes the protonated species. We attribute this observation to (1) a decrease in the average dielectric response of nanoconfined aqueous solutions where charge screening may be decreased; or (2) an increase in proton concentration inside nanopores, which would shift the equilibrium towards the protonated form. Overall, the results of this study provide the first quantification of the pKa values for nanoconfined formic and acetic acids and pave the way for a unifying theory predicting the impact of nanoconfinement on acid-base chemistry.

Heterogeneous Formation of Organonitrates (ON) and Nitroxy-Organosulfates (NOS) from Adsorbed α-Pinene-Derived Organosulfates (OS) on Mineral Surfaces

Organonitrates (ON) and nitroxy-organosulfates (NOS) are important components of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). Gas-phase reactions of α-pinene (C₁₀H₁₆), a primary precursor for several ON compounds, are fairly well understood although formation pathways for NOS largely remain unknown. NOS formation may occur via reactions of ON and organic peroxides with sulfates as well as through radical-initiated photochemical processes. Despite the fact that organosulfates (OS) represent a significant portion of the organic aerosol mass, ON and NOS formation from OS is less understood, especially through nighttime heterogeneous and multiphase chemistry pathways. In the current study, surface reactions of adsorbed α-pinene-derived OS with nitrogen oxides on hematite and kaolinite surfaces, common components of mineral dust, have been investigated. α-Pinene reacts with sulfated mineral surfaces, forming a range of OS compounds on the surface. These OS compounds when adsorbed on mineral surfaces can further react with HNO₃ and NO₂, producing several ON and NOS compounds as well as several oxidation products. Overall, this study reveals the complexity of reactions of prevalent organic compounds leading to the formation of OS, ON, and NOS via heterogeneous and multiphase reaction pathways on mineral surfaces. It is also shown that this chemistry is mineralogy-specific.

Heterogeneous Reactions of α-Pinene on Mineral Surfaces: Formation of Organonitrates and α-Pinene Oxidation Products

Organonitrates (ON) are important components of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). α-Pinene (C₁₀H₁₆), the most abundant monoterpene in the troposphere, is a precursor for the formation of several of these compounds. ON from α-pinene can be produced in the gas phase via photochemical processes and/or following reactions with oxidizers including hydroxyl radical and ozone. Gas-phase nitrogen oxides (NO₂, NO₃) are N sources for ON formation. Although gas-phase reactions of α-pinene that yield ON are fairly well understood, little is known about their formation through heterogeneous and multiphase pathways. In the current study, surface reactions of α-pinene with nitrogen oxides on hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) and kaolinite (SiO₂Al₂O₃(OH)₄) surfaces, common components of mineral dust, have been investigated. α-Pinene oxidizes upon adsorption on kaolinite, forming pinonaldehyde, which then dimerizes on the surface. Furthermore, α-pinene is shown to react with adsorbed nitrate species on these mineral surfaces producing multiple ON and other oxidation products. Additionally, gas-phase oxidation products of α-pinene on mineral surfaces are shown to more strongly adsorb on the surface compared to α-pinene. Overall, this study reveals the complexity of reactions of prevalent organic compounds such as α-pinene with adsorbed nitrate and nitrogen dioxide, revealing new heterogeneous reaction pathways for SOA formation that is mineralogy specific.

Heterogeneous reaction of SO2 on CaCO3 particles: Different impacts of NO2 and acetic acid on the sulfite and sulfate formation

Despite the heterogeneous reaction of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) on mineral dust particles significantly affects the atmospheric environment, the effect of acidic gases on the formation of sulfite and sulfate from this reaction is not particularly clear. In this work, using the in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) technique, we employed a mineral dust particle model (CaCO₃) combined with NO₂ and acetic acid to investigate their effects on the heterogeneous reaction of SO₂ on CaCO₃ particles. It was found that water vapor can promote the formation of sulfite and simulated radiation can facilitate the oxidation of sulfite to sulfate. The addition of NO₂ or acetic acid to the reaction system altered the production of sulfate and sulfite accordingly. There was a synergistic effect between NO₂ and SO₂ that promoted the oxidation of sulfite to sulfate, and a competitive effect between acetic acid and SO₂ that inhibited the formation of sulfite. Moreover, light and water vapor can also affect the heterogeneous reaction of SO₂ with the coexistence of multiple gases. These findings improve our understanding of the effects of organic and inorganic gases and environmental factors on the formation of sulfite and sulfate in heterogeneous reactions.

Photochemical Oxidation of Water-Soluble Organic Carbon (WSOC) on Mineral Dust and Enhanced Organic Ammonium Formation

Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), which is closely related to biogenic emissions, is of great importance in the atmosphere for its ubiquitous existence and rich abundance. Levoglucosan, a typical WSOC, is usually considered to be stable and thus used as a tracer of biomass burning. However, we found that levoglucosan can be photo-oxidized on mineral dust, with formic acid, oxalic acid, glyoxylic acid, 2,3-dioxopropanoic acid, dicarbonic acid, performic acid, mesoxalaldehyde, 2-hydroxymalonaldehyde, carbonic formic anhydride, and 1,3-dioxolane-2,4-dione detected as main products. Further, we observed the heterogeneous uptake of NH₃ promoted by the carboxylic acids stemming from the photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) of levoglucosan. The mineral-dust-initiated PCO of levoglucosan and enhanced heterogeneous uptake of NH₃, which are highly influenced by irradiation and moisture conditions, were for the first time revealed. The reaction mechanisms and pathways were studied in detail by diffuse reflection infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), high-pressure photon ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPPI-ToF-MS) and flow reactor systems. Diverse WSOC constituents were studied as well, and the reactivity toward NH₃ is related to the number of hydroxyl groups of the WSOC molecules. This work reveals a new precursor of secondary organic aerosols and provides experimental evidence of the existence of organic ammonium salts in atmospheric particles.

Critical Water Coverage during Forsterite Carbonation in Thin Water Films: Activating Dissolution and Mass Transport

In geologic carbon sequestration, CO₂ is injected into geologic reservoirs as a supercritical fluid (scCO₂). The carbonation of divalent silicates exposed to humidified scCO₂ occurs in angstroms to nanometers thick adsorbed H₂O films. A threshold H₂O film thickness is required for carbonate precipitation, but a mechanistic understanding is lacking. In this study, we investigated carbonation of forsterite (Mg₂SiO₄) in humidified scCO₂ (50 °C and 90 bar), which serves as a model system for understanding subsurface divalent silicate carbonation reactivity. Attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy pinpointed that magnesium carbonate precipitation begins at 1.5 monolayers of adsorbed H₂O. At about this same H₂O coverage, transmission infrared spectroscopy showed that forsterite dissolution begins and electrical impedance spectroscopy demonstrated that diffusive transport accelerates. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the onset of diffusion is due to an abrupt decrease in the free-energy barriers for lateral mobility of outer-spherically adsorbed Mg²⁺. The dissolution and mass transport controls on divalent silicate reactivity in wet scCO₂ could be advantageous for maximizing permeability near the wellbore and minimize leakage through the caprock.

Effects of NO2 and SO2 on the heterogeneous reaction of acetic acid on α-Al2O3 in the presence and absence of simulated irradiation

The effects of NO2 and SO2 on the atmospheric heterogeneous reaction of acetic acid on α-Al2O3 in the presence and absence of simulated irradiation were investigated at ambient conditions by using the diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) technique. The experiment was divided into two parts: the heterogeneous reaction experiment and the pre-adsorption reaction experiment under light and dark conditions. In the heterogeneous reaction experiment, solar radiation stimulates the formation of more acetate and nitrate. At the same time, it can promote the partial conversion of sulfites to sulfates in the heterogeneous reaction of SO2 on α-Al2O3 particles. It can be seen that solar radiation plays a significant role in the heterogeneous reactions of inorganic and organic gases on mineral particles. In the pre-adsorption reaction experiment, the pre-adsorbed nitrate, sulfite or sulfate have conspicuous inhibition influence on the formation of acetate in the presence and absence of simulated irradiation. This indicates that the role of pre-adsorbed species should be given more attention for the heterogeneous reaction of acetic acid on the surface of α-Al2O3 particles. When α-Al2O3 particles were pre-adsorbed by different species, simulated irradiation could facilitate the growth of different amounts of acetate. It was found that the extent to which solar radiation contributes to heterogeneous reactions of different kinds of gases on different mineral particles is different. This further emphasizes the complexities of the heterogeneous conversion processes of atmospheric trace gases on the surface of mineral aerosols, promoting a better understanding of the effects of solar radiation and pre-adsorption on the heterogeneous reaction in the atmosphere.

Competitive reactions of SO2 and acetic acid on α-Al2O3 and CaCO3 particles

Heterogeneous reactions between gaseous pollutants and mineral particles have gradually become a research hotspot in the field of atmospheric chemistry. In this paper, competitive reactions between SO₂ and acetic acid on the surface of α-Al₂O₃ and CaCO₃ particles were studied by the diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopic (DRIFTS) technique in dark and dry conditions. At the same time, the temporary evolution of the integrated absorbance of acetate and sulfite was investigated to further understand the interaction of SO₂ and acetic acid on the mineral particles. On the surface of α-Al₂O₃ particles, acetate and sulfite can compete for surface-active sites, resulting in a decrease in the total amount of acetates. In dark and dry conditions, the effect of acetic acid on SO₂ cannot be obtained by the DRIFTS method. On the surface of CaCO₃ particles, SO₂ can have a competitive impact on acetic acid by grabbing active sites, leading to a slight decrease of the amount of acetates. The heterogeneous reaction of SO₂ can be impeded by coexisting acetic acid, resulting in a drastic reduction of the number of sulfites. It can be seen that the formation mechanisms of acetate and sulfite on the surface of different mineral particles in the atmosphere are different, which provides a variety of ideas and possibilities for the formation of related inorganic and organic salts in the atmosphere.

Interfaces of Gas-Aerosol Particles: Relative Humidity and Salt Concentration Effects

The growth of aerosol particles is intimately related to chemical reactions in the gas phase and particle phase and at gas-aerosol particle interfaces. While chemical reactions in gas and particle phases are well documented, there is very little information regarding interface-related reactions. The interface of gas-aerosol particles not only facilitates a physical channel for organic species to enter and exit but also provides a necessary lane for culturing chemical reactions. The physical and chemical properties of gas-particle interfaces have not been studied extensively, nor have the reactions occurring at the interfaces been well researched. This is mainly due to the fact that there is a lack of suitable in situ interface-sensitive analytical techniques for direct measurements of interfacial properties. The motivation behind this research is to understand how interfaces play a role in the growth of aerosol particles. We have developed in situ interface-specific second harmonic scattering to examine interfacial behaviors of molecules of aerosol particles under different relative humidity (RH) and salt concentrations. Both the relative humidity and salt concentration can change the particle size and the phase of the aerosol. RH not only varies the concentration of solutes inside aerosol particles but also changes interfacial hydration in local regions. Organic molecules were found to exhibit distinct behaviors at the interfaces and bulk on NaCl particles under different RH levels. Our quantitative analyses showed that the interfacial adsorption free energies remain unchanged while interfacial areas increase as the relative humidity increases. Furthermore, the surface tension of NaCl particles decreases as the RH increases. Our experimental findings from the novel nonlinear optical scattering technique stress the importance of interfacial water behaviors on aerosol particles in the atmosphere.

A molecular picture of surface interactions of organic compounds on prevalent indoor surfaces: limonene adsorption on SiO2

Indoor surfaces are often coated with organic compounds yet a molecular understanding of what drives these interactions is poorly understood. Herein, the adsorption and desorption of limonene, an organic compound found in indoor environments, on hydroxylated silica (SiO2) surfaces, used to mimic indoor glass surfaces, is investigated by combining vibrational spectroscopy, atomistic computer simulations and kinetic modeling. Infrared spectroscopy shows the interaction involves hydrogen-bonding between limonene and surface O-H groups. Atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations confirm the existence of π-hydrogen bonding interactions, with one or two hydrogen bonds between the silica O-H groups and the carbon-carbon double bonds, roughly one third of the time. The concentration and temperature dependent adsorption/desorption kinetics as measured by infrared spectroscopy were reproduced with a kinetic model, yielding the adsorption enthalpy of ∼55 kJ mol-1, which is consistent with the value derived from the MD simulations. Importantly, this integrated experimental, theoretical and kinetic modeling study constitutes a conceptual framework for understanding the interaction of organic compounds with indoor relevant surfaces and thus provides important insights into our understanding of indoor air chemistry and indoor air quality.

Water Structure Controls Carbonic Acid Formation in Adsorbed Water Films

Reaction pathways and kinetics in highly structured H₂O adsorbed as Ångstrom to nanometer thick layers on mineral surfaces are distinct from those facilitated by bulk liquid water. We investigate the role of the interfacial H₂O structure in the reaction of H₂O and CO₂ to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) in thin H₂O films condensed onto silica nanoparticles from humidified supercritical CO₂. Rates of carbonic acid formation are correlated with spectroscopic signatures of H₂O structure using oxygen isotopic tracers and infrared spectroscopy. While carbonic acid virtually does not form in the supercritical phase, the silica surface catalyzes this reaction by concentrating H₂O through adsorption at hydrophilic silanol groups. Within measurement uncertainty, we found no evidence that carbonic acid forms when exclusively ice-like structured H₂O is detected at the silica surface. Instead, formation of H₂C¹⁸O¹⁶O₂ from H₂¹⁸O and C¹⁶O₂ was found to be linearly correlated with liquid-like structured H₂O that formed on the ice-like layer.

Increased Acid Dissociation at the Quartz/Water Interface

As shown by a quite significant amount of literature, acids at the water surface tend to be "less" acid, meaning that their associated form is favored over the conjugated base. What happens at the solid/liquid interface? In the case of the silica/water interface, we show how the acidity of adsorbed molecules can instead increase. Using a free energy perturbation approach in combination with electronic structure-based molecular dynamics simulations, we show how the acidity of pyruvic acid at the quartz/water interface is increased by almost two units. Such increased acidity is the result of the specific microsolvation at the interface and, in particular, of the stabilization of the deprotonated form by the silanols on the quartz surface and the special interfacial water layer.

Competitive Adsorption of Acetic Acid and Water on Kaolinite

Mineral dust is prevalent in the atmosphere as a result of emissions from natural and anthropogenic sources. As mineral dust particles undergo long-distance transport, they are exposed to trace gases and water vapor. We have characterized the interactions of acetic acid on kaolinite using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and molecular modeling to determine the chemisorbed species present. After the addition of acetic acid, gas-phase water was introduced to explore how water vapor competes with acetic acid for surface sites. We found that four chemisorbed acetate species are present on kaolinite after exposure to acetic acid in which acetate bonds through a monodentate, bidenatate, or bidentate bridging linkage with an aluminum atom. These species exhibit varying levels of stability after the introduction of water, indicating that water vapor affects the adsorption of organic acids. These results indicate that the type of chemisorbed species determines its stability toward competitive adsorption, which has potential implications for atmospheric composition and ice nucleation.