Seasonal trends and sources of dicarboxylic acids in fine aerosol over the Brahmaputra valley, North-East India

The atmospheric dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) have a significant impact on the climate and indirectly affect human health, making them important organic substances. PM2.5 bound DCAs were analysed for Jorhat, India, 2019. In addition to the temporal variability, seasonal variation throughout the year and the impact of varying meteorological factors on DCAs concentration have also been studied. It has been noted that precipitation and ambient air temperature considerably impact DCA concentrations, which affect the type of source contribution of DCAs. The average concentration of all DCAs was 107.04 ± 97.54 ng/m3, with a higher prevalence of high molecular weight DCAs than low molecular weight DCAs. Correlation analysis, water-soluble inorganic species, EC-OC ratio and diagnostic ratios of DCAs were employed to determine whether DCAs originate from direct emission and/or from photochemical oxidation of biogenic or anthropogenic precursors. DCAs concentration varied seasonally in decreasing order, with the maximum in the monsoon (144.24 ± 101.62 ng/m3) followed by winter (138.36 ± 95.11 ng/m3), post-monsoon (80.72 ± 37.27 ng/m3), and summer (36.64 ± 34.52 ng/m3). Air mass back trajectory and concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT) were used to show both short and long-range air mass transport with moderate to high DCAs contribution regions. Photochemical oxidation of diacids precursors predominates during the monsoon season, whereas in winter, direct anthropogenic emissions account for the majority of DCAs.

Optimization of protocol for analysis of dicarboxylic acids in ambient aerosol samples using GC-MS: method comparison and application

Dicarboxylic acids (DCAs), with their deliquescence and hygroscopic nature, can function as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN), affecting rainfall patterns. DCA analysis can serve as organic molecular markers for anthropogenic and biogenic sources. Very few studies deal with the optimization of the protocol for qualitative and quantitative analysis of DCAs using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In this study, we have optimized the extraction of DCAs from aerosol samples by employing several organic solvents with differing relative polarities. Extraction efficiencies of organic solvents were evaluated at different temperatures and pressures using the advanced energized dispersive extractor. The optimized outcomes demonstrate that extraction using methanol at 105 °C for 5 min resulted in high efficiencies, achieving over 80% recovery for all targeted C3-C10 dicarboxylic acids (DCAs). N,O-bis-(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) with 1% trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) was chosen as the derivatizing reagent, and reaction conditions were optimized to give maximum conversions. The derivatization process, conducted with 30 µL of BSTFA + 1% TMCS in a 200 µL reaction mixture at 70 °C for 90 min, yielded effective and reliable results for subsequent analysis. Separation of compounds was done on the HP-5 column with Helium as the carrier gas. Protocol was finalized by selecting the operating parameters in SIM mode that reduce the total run time while maintaining a clear resolution of peaks.

Photochemical Synthesis of Oligomeric Amphiphiles from Alkyl Oxoacids in Aqueous Environments

The aqueous phase photochemistry of a series of amphiphilic α-keto acids with differing linear alkyl chain lengths was investigated, demonstrating the ability of sunlight-initiated reactions to build molecular complexity under environmentally relevant conditions. We show that the photochemical reaction mechanisms for α-keto acids in aqueous solution are robust and generalizable across alkyl chain lengths. The organic radicals generated during photolysis are indiscriminate, leading to a large mixture of photoproducts that are observed using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, but these products are identifiable following literature photochemical mechanisms. The alkyl oxoacids under study here can undergo a Norrish Type II reaction to generate pyruvic acid, increasing the diversity of observed photoproducts. The major products of this photochemistry are covalently bonded dimers and trimers of the starting oxoacids, many of which are multi-tailed lipids. The properties of these oligomers are discussed, including their spontaneous self-assembly into aggregates.

Size matters in the water uptake and hygroscopic growth of atmospherically relevant multicomponent aerosol particles

Understanding the interactions of water with atmospheric aerosols is crucial for determining the size, physical state, reactivity, and climate impacts of this important component of the Earth's atmosphere. Here we show that water uptake and hygroscopic growth of multicomponent, atmospherically relevant particles can be size dependent when comparing 100 nm versus ca. 6 μm sized particles. It was determined that particles composed of ammonium sulfate with succinic acid and of a mixture of chlorides typical of the marine environment show size-dependent hygroscopic behavior. Microscopic analysis of the distribution of components within the aerosol particles show that the size dependence is due to differences in the mixing state, that is, whether particles are homogeneously mixed or phase separated, for different sized particles. This morphology-dependent hygroscopicity has consequences for heterogeneous atmospheric chemistry as well as aerosol interactions with electromagnetic radiation and clouds.

Molecular distribution and stable carbon isotopic composition of dicarboxylic acids, ketocarboxylic acids, and α-dicarbonyls in size-resolved atmospheric particles from Xi'an City, China

Size-resolved airborne particles (9-stages) in urban Xi'an, China, during summer and winter were measured for molecular distributions and stable carbon isotopic compositions of dicarboxylic acids, ketocarboxylic acids, and α-dicarbonyls. To our best knowledge, we report for the first time the size-resolved differences in stable carbon isotopic compositions of diacids and related compounds in continental organic aerosols. High ambient concentrations of terephthalic (tPh, 379 ± 200 ng m(-3)) and glyoxylic acids (ωC(2), 235 ± 134 ng m(-3)) in Xi'an aerosols during winter compared to those in other Chinese cities suggest significant emissions from plastic waste burning and coal combustions. Most of the target compounds are enriched in the fine mode (<2.1 μm) in both seasons peaking at 0.7-2.1 μm. However, summertime concentrations of malonic (C(3)), succinic (C(4)), azelaic (C(9)), phthalic (Ph), pyruvic (Pyr), 4-oxobutanoic (ωC(4)), and 9-oxononanoic (ωC(9)) acids, and glyoxal (Gly) in the coarse mode (>2.1 μm) are comparable to and even higher than those in the fine mode (<2.1 μm). Stable carbon isotopic compositions of the major organics are higher in winter than in summer, except oxalic acid (C(2)), ωC(4), and Ph. δ(13)C of C(2) showed a clear difference in sizes during summer, with higher values in fine mode (ranging from -22.8‰ to -21.9‰) and lower values in coarse mode (-27.1‰ to -23.6‰). The lower δ(13)C of C(2) in coarse particles indicate that coarse mode of the compound originates from evaporation from fine mode and subsequent condensation/adsorption onto pre-existing coarse particles. Positive linear correlations of C(2), sulfate and ωC(2) and their δ(13)C values suggest that ωC(2) is a key intermediate, which is formed in aqueous-phase via photooxidation of precursors (e.g., Gly and Pyr), followed by a further oxidation to produce C(2).

Thermodynamic models of aqueous solutions containing inorganic electrolytes and dicarboxylic acids at 298.15 K. 2. Systems including dissociation equilibria

Atmospheric aerosols contain a significant fraction of water-soluble organic compounds, including dicarboxylic acids. Pitzer activity coefficient models are developed, using a wide range of data at 298.15 K, for the following systems containing succinic acid (H(2)Succ) and/or succinate salts: [H(+), Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+)]Cl(-)-H(2)Succ-H(2)O, HNO(3)-H(2)Succ-H(2)O, H(+)-NH(4)(+)-HSucc(-)-Succ(2-)-NH(3)-H(2)Succ-H(2)O, NH(4)Cl-(NH(4))(2)Succ-H(2)O, H(+)-Na(+)-HSucc(-)-Succ(2-)-Cl(-)-H(2)Succ-H(2)O, NH(4)NO(3)-H(2)Succ-H(2)O, and H(2)SO(4)-H(2)Succ-H(2)O. The above compositions are given in terms of ions in the cases where acid dissociation was considered. Pitzer models were also developed for the following systems containing malonic acid (H(2)Malo): H(+)-Na(+)-HMalo(-)-Malo(2-)-Cl(-)-H(2)Malo-H(2)O, and H(2)Malo-H(2)SO(4)-H(2)O. The models are used to evaluate the extended Zdanovskii-Stokes-Robinson (ZSR) model proposed by Clegg and Seinfeld (J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108, 1008-1017) for calculating water and solute activities in solutions in which dissociation equilibria occur. The ZSR model yields satisfactory results only for systems that contain moderate to high concentrations of (nondissociating) supporting electrolyte. A practical modeling scheme is proposed for aqueous atmospheric aerosols containing both electrolytes and dissociating (organic) nonelectrolytes.

Aircraft measurement of organic aerosols over China

Lower to middle (0.5-3.0 km altitude) tropospheric aerosols (PM2.5) collected by aircraft over inland and east coastal China were, for the first time, characterized for organic molecular compositions to understand anthropogenic, natural, and photochemical contribution to the air quality. n-Alkanes, fatty acids, sugars, polyacids are detected as major compound classes, whereas lignin and resin products, sterols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and phthalic acids are minor species. Average concentrations of all the identified compounds excluding malic acid correspond to 40-50% of those reported on the ground sites. Relative abundances of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) components such as malic acid are much higher in the aircraft samples, suggesting an enhanced photochemical production over China. Organic carbon (OC) concentrations in summer (average, 24.3 microg m(-3)) were equivalent to those reported on the ground sites. Higher OC/EC (elemental carbon) ratios in the summer aircraft samples also support a significant production of SOA over China. High loadings of organic aerosols in the Chinese troposphere may be responsible to an intercontinental transport of the pollutants and potential impact on the regional and global climate changes.

Thermodynamic Models of Aqueous Solutions Containing Inorganic Electrolytes and Dicarboxylic Acids at 298.15 K. 1. The Acids as Nondissociating Components

Atmospheric aerosols contain a significant fraction of water-soluble organic compounds, including dicarboxylic acids. Water activities at approximately 298.15 K (including data for highly supersaturated solutions) of oxalic, malonic, succinic, glutaric, maleic, malic, and methyl succinic acids are first correlated as a function of concentration, treating the acids as nondissociating components. Methods proposed by Clegg et al. (J. Aerosol. Sci. 2001, 32, 713-738), and by Clegg and Seinfeld (J. Phys. Chem. A 2004, 108, 1008-1017) for estimating water activities and solute activity coefficients in aqueous mixtures containing both electrolytes and uncharged solutes are then evaluated from comparisons with literature data. These data include water activities, solubilities, and determinations of the eutonic points of solutions containing up to five acids, and solutions containing one or more acids and the salts (NH(4))(2)SO(4), NH(4)NO(3), or NaCl. The extended Zdanovskii-Stokes-Robinson approach of Clegg and Seinfeld yields the more accurate predictions for aqueous mixtures containing dicarboxylic acids only, and for aqueous mixtures of the acids and salts (though by a lesser margin). A number of hybrid modeling approaches, which contain elements of both methods, are outlined.

Simultaneous determination of mono- and dicarboxylic acids, omega-Oxo-carboxylic acids, midchain ketocarboxylic acids, and aldehydes in atmospheric aerosol samples

This paper describes a method for the simultaneous determination of monocarboxylic acids (C6-C34), dicarboxylic acids (C2-C24), omega-oxo-carboxylic acids (C2-C9), ketocarboxylic acids (pyruvic and pinonic acid), and select aldehydes (glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and nonanal) in atmospheric particles. Quantification of these compounds gives information on important chemical characteristics of aerosols for source apportioning of aerosol organics and for studying atmospheric processes leading to secondary organic aerosol formation. These target analytes were determined as their butyl ester or butyl acetal derivatives using gas-chromatography mass spectrometry. The method is modified from a method described by Kawamura. Kawamura's original method involved a water extraction step, which practically restricted the method to the determination of only those compounds that are water-soluble. Our method eliminates the water extraction step and combines extraction and derivatization of the target compounds in one step. A mixture of hexane/butanol/BF3 simultaneously derivatizes the polar function groups (i.e., -COOH, -C=O) and extracts the target analytes from the aerosol filter substrates. A prominent advantage of our method is improved recoveries for the more volatile analytes in the target compound classes as a result of eliminating the water evaporation step. Recoveries better than 66% were obtained for the target analytes, including the relatively volatile ones. This improvement for the light species has allowed detection of a new midchain ketocarboxylic acid, 4-oxopentanoic acid, which would have escaped detection by the Kawamura method because of its high susceptibility to evaporative loss. Examples are presented to demonstrate the use of this method in analysis of ambient aerosol samples.

Formation of secondary organic aerosol by reactive condensation of furandiones, aldehydes, and water vapor onto inorganic aerosol seed particles

Volatile furandiones and aldehydes are significant atmospheric oxidation products of aromatic compounds. The mechanism of secondary organic aerosol formation by these compounds was probed using particle chamber observations and macroscale simulations of condensed phases. Growth of inorganic seed aerosol was monitored in the presence of humidity and high concentrations of 2,5-furandione (maleic anhydride), 3-methyl-2,5-furandione (citraconic anhydride), benzaldehyde, and trans-cinnamaldehyde. Particle growth commenced when the gas-phase saturation level of each organic compound and water vapor (relative to its pure liquid), when summed together, reached a threshold near one, implying the formation of a nearly ideal mixed organic/aqueous phase. However, these organics are immiscible with water at the high mole fractions that would be expected in such a phase. Highly acidic dicarboxylic acids produced by the reactions between furandiones and water were shown to rapidly acidify an aqueous phase, resulting in greatly increased benzaldehyde solubility. Thus, the uptake of these organics onto particles in the presence of humidity appears to be reaction-dependent. Finally, it is shown that dicarboxylic acids produced in these reactions recyclize back to furandiones when subjected to normal GC injector temperatures, which could cause large artifacts in gas/particle phase distribution measurements.