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- Title
Organosulfate produced from consumption of SO3 speeds up sulfuric acid–dimethylamine atmospheric nucleation.
- Authors
Zhang, Xiaomeng; Lian, Yongjian; Tan, Shendong; Yin, Shi
- Abstract
Although sulfuric acid (SA) and dimethylamine (DMA)-driven nucleation mainly dominates the new particle formation (NPF) process in the atmosphere, seeking the involvement of other gaseous species remains crucial for a better understanding of the NPF. Organosulfate has been detected in the gas phase and abundantly in atmospheric fine particles. However, its molecular formation mechanism and its impact on the NPF are still much less understood. Here, we explored the gas-phase reaction of glycolic acid (GA) with SO 3 and evaluated the enhancing potential of its products on the SA–DMA-driven NPF using a combination of quantum chemical calculations and kinetics modeling. We found that the considerable concentration of glycolic acid sulfate (GAS) is thermodynamically accessible from the reaction of GA with SO 3 , efficiently catalyzed by SA or H 2 O molecules. The produced GAS can form stable clusters with SA and DMA and speeds up the nucleation rate of the SA–DMA system obviously. Notably, the enhancement by GAS in the SA–DMA-based particle formation rate can be up to ∼ 800 times in the region where the concentration of SA is about 104 molec. cm -3. Supported by observations of atmospheric NPF events at Mt. Tai in China, our proposed ternary GAS–SA–DMA nucleation mechanism further indicates that the organosulfates produced from the consumption of SO 3 may play an important role in the unexpected high NPF rates observed in areas with relatively low concentrations of SA. The presented reaction and nucleation mechanisms provide a new feasible source of organosulfates in atmospheric new particles. Based on our findings, the impact of organosulfates on the atmospheric NPF in multiple regions around the world was estimated and discussed.
- Subjects
ATMOSPHERIC nucleation; RATE of nucleation; GAS phase reactions; PARTICULATE matter; CHEMICAL kinetics; GLYCOLIC acid
- Publication
Atmospheric Chemistry & Physics, 2024, Vol 24, Issue 6, p3593
- ISSN
1680-7316
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5194/acp-24-3593-2024