Atmospheric Chemistry Program Seminar

ANYL PhD Defense: Role of Oxidative Conditions on the Formation of Aerosol and Organic Nitrates from the Reactions of Monoterpenes with NO3 and OH radicals

Marla DeVault,
Ziemann group

"Monoterpenes are widely emitted biogenic volatile organic compounds, which react quickly in the atmosphere and the oxidized products of which can partition into secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Understanding the types of products that are formed, how they might react in the particle-phase, and the effect of oxidative conditions on these factors are key for improving atmospheric models. Specifically, we are interested in the formation of organic nitrates and their impact on SOA. In order to study this, five monoterpenes were oxidized by NO3 radicals, to simulate nighttime conditions, and OH radicals in the presence of NOx, to simulate daytime conditions. The SOA collected from these ten reactions show a prevalence of acetal and hemiacetal dimers and trimers for NO3 radical oxidation for cyclic monoterpenes, which are notably absent from the OH/NOx oxidized SOA. This talk explores what mechanistic processes lead to this and other differences in particle-phase organic nitrates derived from these two reactions. "

Hybrid, email anne.handschy@colorado.edu for Zoom link