Low-Molecular-Weight Carboxylic Acids in the Southeastern U.S.: Formation, Partitioning, and Implications for Organic Aerosol Aging

While carboxylic acids are important components in both particle and gas phases in the atmosphere, their sources and partitioning are not fully understood. In this study, we present real-time measurements of both particle- and gas-phase concentrations for five of the most common and abundant low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids (LMWCA) in a rural region in the southeastern U.S. in Fall 2016. Through comparison with secondary organic aerosol (SOA) tracers, we find that isoprene was the most important local precursor for all five LMWCA but via different pathways. We propose that monocarboxylic acids (formic and acetic acids) were mainly formed through gas-phase photochemical reactions, while dicarboxylic acids (oxalic, malonic, and succinic acids) were predominantly from aqueous processing. Unexpectedly high concentrations of particle-phase formic and acetic acids (in the form of formate and acetate, respectively) were observed and likely the components of long-range transport organic aerosol (OA), decoupled from their gas-phase counterparts. In addition, an extraordinarily strong correlation (R² = 0.90) was observed between a particulate LMWCA and aged SOA, which we tentatively attribute to boundary layer dynamics.

Microscopic Evidence for Phase Separation of Organic Species and Inorganic Salts in Fine Ambient Aerosol Particles

Phase separation is an important microscopic phenomenon in aerosol particles and reflects the surface properties of particles and the aging degree of organic components. However, few data are available to directly reveal phase separation in ambient aerosol particles, although there are abundant data from laboratory experiments. In this study, different state-of-the-art microscopic technologies were used to study the phase separation of organic matter (OM) and inorganic salts in individual particles collected from different atmospheric environments, with one type of surrogate particles prepared in the laboratory. We found that most of the collected particles with an equivalent sphere diameter of >100 nm have a secondary inorganic aerosol core with OM coating in the continental atmosphere. In addition, secondary inorganic aerosol and OM phase separation are more frequent in rural particles than suburban particles, suggesting that particle aging enhances the phase separation. Our results show that the phase separation is a frequent phenomenon that forms organic coatings on inorganic particles of individual particles (>100 nm), and their number abundances depend on the particle size and OM aging degree. The resulting morphology shows that OM is an important particle surface in the atmosphere, which influences gas partitioning, optical and hygroscopic properties, and cloud condensation nuclei formation activities.

Aging induced changes in ice nucleation activity of combustion aerosol as determined by near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy

Fresh soot particles are generally hydrophobic, however, particle hydrophilicity can be increased through atmospheric aging processes. At present little is known on how particle chemical composition and hydrophilicity change upon atmospheric aging and associated uncertainties governing the ice cloud formation potential of soot. Here we sampled two propane flame soots referred to as brown and black soot, characterized as organic carbon rich and poor, respectively. We investigated how the ice nucleation activity of these particles changed through aging in water and aqueous acidic solutions, using a continuous flow diffusion chamber operated at cirrus cloud temperatures (T ≤ 233 K). Single aggregates of both unaged and aged soot were chemically characterized by scanning transmission X-ray microscopy and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (STXM/NEXAFS) measurements. Particle wettability was determined through water sorption measurements. Unaged black and brown soot particles exhibited significantly different ice nucleation activities. Our experiments revealed significantly enhanced ice nucleation activity of the aged soot particles compared to the fresh samples, lowering the required relative humidities at which ice formation can take place at T = 218 K by up to 15% with respect to water (ΔRHi ≈ 25%). We observed an enhanced water uptake capacity for the aged compared to the unaged samples, which was more pronounced for the black soot. From these measurements we concluded that there is a change in ice nucleation mechanism when aging brown soot. Comparison of the NEXAFS spectra of unaged soot samples revealed a unique spectral feature around 287.5 eV in the case of black soot that was absent for the brown soot, indicative of carbon with hydroxyl functionalities. Comparison of the NEXAFS spectra of unaged and aged soot particles indicates changes in organic functional groups, and the aged spectra were found to be largely similar across soot types, with the exception of the water aged brown soot. Overall, we conclude that atmospheric aging is important to representatively assess the ice cloud formation activity of soot particles.

Aircraft soot from conventional fuels and biofuels during ground idle and climb-out conditions: Electron microscopy and X-ray micro-spectroscopy

Aircraft soot has a significant impact on global and local air pollution and is of particular concern for the population working at airports and living nearby. The morphology and chemistry of soot are related to its reactivity and depend mainly on engine operating conditions and fuel-type. We investigated the morphology (by transmission electron microscopy) and chemistry (by X-ray micro-spectroscopy) of soot from the exhaust of a CFM 56-7B26 turbofan engine, currently the most common engine in aviation fleet, operated in the test cell of SR Technics, Zurich airport. Standard kerosene (Jet A-1) and a biofuel blend (Jet A-1 with 32% HEFA) were used at ground idle and climb-out engine thrust, as these conditions highly influence air quality at airport areas. The results indicate that soot reactivity decreases from ground idle to climb-out conditions for both fuel types. Nearly one third of the primary soot particles generated by the blended fuel at climb-out engine thrust bear an outer amorphous shell implying higher reactivity. This characteristic referring to soot reactivity needs to be taken into account when evaluating the advantage of HEFA blending at high engine thrust. The soot type that is most prone to react with its surrounding is generated by Jet A-1 fuel at ground idle. Biofuel blending slightly lowers soot reactivity at ground idle but does the opposite at climb-out conditions. As far as soot reactivity is concerned, biofuels can prove beneficial for airports where ground idle is a common situation; the benefit of biofuels for climb-out conditions is uncertain.

Collapse Mechanisms of Nascent and Aged Sea Spray Aerosol Proxy Films

Sea spray aerosol (SSA) is highly enriched in marine-derived organic compounds during seasons of high biological productivity, and saturated fatty acids comprise one of the most abundant classes of molecules. Fatty acids and other organic compounds form a film on SSA surfaces, and SSA particle surface-area-to-volume ratios are altered during aging in the marine boundary layer (MBL). To understand SSA surface organization and its role during dynamic atmospheric conditions, an SSA proxy fatty acid film and its individual components stearic acid (SA), palmitic acid (PA), and myristic acid (MA) are studied separately using surface pressure–area ( Π − A ) isotherms and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). The films were spread on an aqueous NaCl subphase at pH 8.2, 5.6, and 2.0 to mimic nascent to aged SSA aqueous core composition in the MBL, respectively. We show that the individual fatty acid behavior differs from that of the SSA proxy film, and at nascent SSA pH the mixture yields a monolayer with intermediate rigidity that folds upon film compression to the collapse state. Acidification causes the SSA proxy film to become more rigid and form 3D nuclei. Our results reveal film morphology alterations, which are related to SSA reflectivity, throughout various stages of SSA aging and provide a better understanding of SSA impacts on climate.

Molecular Structure Inhibiting Synergism in Charged Surfactant Mixtures: An Atomistic Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

Synergistic and nonsynergistic surfactant-water mixtures of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), lauryl betaine (C12B), and cocoamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) systems are studied using molecular simulation to understand the role of interactions among headgroups, tailgroups, and water on structural and thermodynamic properties at the air-water interface. SDS is an anionic surfactant, while C12B and CAPB are zwitterionic; CAPB differs from C12B by an amide group in the tail. While the lowest surface tensions at high surface concentrations in the SDS-C12B synergistic system could not be reproduced by simulation, estimated partitioning between surface and bulk shows trends consistent with synergism. Structural analysis shows the influence of the SDS headgroup pulling C12B to the surface, resulting in closely packed structures compared to their respective homomolecular-surfactant systems. The SDS-CAPB system, on the other hand, is nonsynergistic when the surfactants are mixed on account of the tilted structure of the CAPB tail. The translational excess entropy due to the tailgroup interactions discriminates between the synergistic and nonsynergistic systems. The implications of such interactions on surfactant effects in complex, multicomponent atmospheric aerosols are discussed.

Modeling the single and multiple scattering properties of soot-laden mineral dust aerosols

Fractal particle morphologies are employed to study the light scattering properties of soot-laden mineral dust aerosols. The applicability of these models is assessed in comparison with measurements and other numerical studies. To quantify the dust-soot mixing effects on the single and multiple scattering properties, a parameterization of the effective bulk properties is developed. Based on the parameterized bulk properties, polarized one-dimensional radiative transfer simulations are performed. The results indicate that small uncertainties in conjunction with soot contamination parameters may lead to large uncertainties in both forward and inverse modeling involving mineral dust contaminated with soot.

Delayed Nrf2-regulated antioxidant gene induction in response to silica nanoparticles

Silica nanoparticles with iron on their surface cause the production of oxidants and stimulate an inflammatory response in macrophages. Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2 - like factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling and its regulated antioxidant genes play critical roles in maintaining redox homeostasis. In this study we investigated the regulation of four representative Nrf2-regulated antioxidant genes; i.e., glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) catalytic subunit (GCLC), GCL modifier subunit (GCLM), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1), by iron-coated silica nanoparticles (SiO2-Fe) in human THP-1 macrophages. We found that the expression of these four antioxidant genes was modified by SiO2-Fe in a time-dependent manner. At 6h, their expression was unchanged except for GCLC, which was reduced compared with controls. At 18h, the expression of these antioxidant genes was significantly increased compared with controls. In contrast, the Nrf2 activator sulforaphane induced all antioxidant genes at as early as 3h. The nuclear translocation of Nrf2 occurred later than that for NF-κB p65 protein and the induction of proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL-1β). NF-κB inhibitor SN50 prevented the reduction of GCLC at 6h and abolished the induction of antioxidant genes at 18h by SiO2-Fe, but did not affect the basal and sulforaphane-induced expression of antioxidant genes, suggesting that NF-κB signaling plays a key role in the induction of Nrf2-mediated genes in response to SiO2-Fe. Consistently, SN50 inhibited the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 caused by SiO2-Fe. In addition, Nrf2 silencing decreased the basal and SiO2-induced expression of the four reprehensive antioxidant genes. Taken together, these data indicated that SiO2-Fe induced a delayed response of Nrf2-regulated antioxidant genes, likely through NF-κB-Nrf2 interactions.

Characterising the evaporation kinetics of water and semi-volatile organic compounds from viscous multicomponent organic aerosol particles

Here we present methods to simultaneously investigate diffusivities and volatilities in studies of evolving single aerosol particle size and composition.

Maillard Chemistry in Clouds and Aqueous Aerosol As a Source of Atmospheric Humic-Like Substances

The reported optical, physical, and chemical properties of aqueous Maillard reaction mixtures of small aldehydes (glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and glycolaldehyde) with ammonium sulfate and amines are compared with those of aqueous extracts of ambient aerosol (water-soluble organic carbon, WSOC) and the humic-like substances (HULIS) fraction of WSOC. Using a combination of new and previously published measurements, we examine fluorescence, X-ray absorbance, UV/vis, and IR spectra, complex refractive indices, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra, thermograms, aerosol and electrospray ionization mass spectra, surface activity, and hygroscopicity. Atmospheric WSOC and HULIS encompass a range of properties, but in almost every case aqueous aldehyde-amine reaction mixtures are squarely within this range. Notable exceptions are the higher UV/visible absorbance wavelength dependence (Angström coefficients) observed for methylglyoxal reaction mixtures, the lack of surface activity of glyoxal reaction mixtures, and the higher N/C ratios of aldehyde-amine reaction products relative to atmospheric WSOC and HULIS extracts. The overall optical, physical, and chemical similarities are consistent with, but not demonstrative of, Maillard chemistry being a significant secondary source of atmospheric HULIS. However, the higher N/C ratios of aldehyde-amine reaction products limits the source strength to ≤50% of atmospheric HULIS, assuming that other sources of HULIS incorporate only negligible quantities of nitrogen.

Biogenic potassium salt particles as seeds for secondary organic aerosol in the Amazon

The fine particles serving as cloud condensation nuclei in pristine Amazonian rainforest air consist mostly of secondary organic aerosol. Their origin is enigmatic, however, because new particle formation in the atmosphere is not observed. Here, we show that the growth of organic aerosol particles can be initiated by potassium-salt-rich particles emitted by biota in the rainforest. These particles act as seeds for the condensation of low- or semi-volatile organic compounds from the atmospheric gas phase or multiphase oxidation of isoprene and terpenes. Our findings suggest that the primary emission of biogenic salt particles directly influences the number concentration of cloud condensation nuclei and affects the microphysics of cloud formation and precipitation over the rainforest.

Organic constituents on the surfaces of aerosol particles from Southern Finland, Amazonia, and California studied by vibrational sum frequency generation

This article summarizes and compares the analysis of the surfaces of natural aerosol particles from three different forest environments by vibrational sum frequency generation. The experiments were carried out directly on filter and impactor substrates, without the need for sample preconcentration, manipulation, or destruction. We discuss the important first steps leading to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particle nucleation and growth from terpene oxidation by showing that, as viewed by coherent vibrational spectroscopy, the chemical composition of the surface region of aerosol particles having sizes of 1 μm and lower appears to be close to size-invariant. We also discuss the concept of molecular chirality as a chemical marker that could be useful for quantifying how chemical constituents in the SOA gas phase and the SOA particle phase are related in time. Finally, we describe how the combination of multiple disciplines, such as aerosol science, advanced vibrational spectroscopy, meteorology, and chemistry can be highly informative when studying particles collected during atmospheric chemistry field campaigns, such as those carried out during HUMPPA-COPEC-2010, AMAZE-08, or BEARPEX-2009, and when they are compared to results from synthetic model systems such as particles from the Harvard Environmental Chamber (HEC). Discussions regarding the future of SOA chemical analysis approaches are given in the context of providing a path toward detailed spectroscopic assignments of SOA particle precursors and constituents and to fast-forward, in terms of mechanistic studies, through the SOA particle formation process.

The role of atmospheric transformations in determining environmental impacts of carbonaceous nanoparticles

In studies that have explored the potential environmental impacts of manufactured nanomaterials, the atmosphere has largely been viewed as an inert setting that acts merely as a route for inhalation exposure. Manufactured nanomaterials will enter the atmosphere during production, use, and disposal, and rather than simply being transported, airborne nanoparticles are in fact subject to physical and chemical transformations that could modify their fate, transport, bioavailability, and toxicity once they deposit to aqueous and terrestrial ecosystems. The objective of this paper is to review the factors affecting carbonaceous nanomaterials' behavior in the environment and to show that atmospheric transformations, often overlooked, have the potential to alter nanoparticles' physical and chemical properties and thus influence their environmental fate and impact. Atmospheric processing of naturally occurring and incidental nanoparticles takes place through coagulation, condensation, and oxidation; these phenomena are expected to affect manufactured nanoparticles as well. It is likely that carbonaceous nanomaterials in the atmosphere will be oxidized, effectively functionalizing them. By influencing size, shape, and surface chemistry, atmospheric transformations have the potential to affect a variety of nanoparticle-environment interactions, including solubility, interaction with natural surfactants, deposition to porous media, and ecotoxicity. Potential directions for future research are suggested to address the current lack of information surrounding atmospheric transformations of engineered nanomaterials.