Exciting reports on the simultaneous formation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and reduction of pyruvate, fumarate, lipoic acid, and oxaloacetate in microdroplets of water produced by pneumatic shearing of water (without electrical voltage or oxidizing or reducing agents) have appeared. These unexpected behaviors of water have been attributed to the air-water interface and used to speculate atmospheric and prebiotic phenomena, respectively, H2O2 in nighttime clouds and the origins of life. Here, we systematically investigate these claims through microdroplets of water produced by: pneumatic sprays, electrosprays, and electropneumatic sprays, and the results are analyzed by mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, gas-chromatography, high-speed imaging, and laser diffraction. We show that there is a correlation between the applied pressure, the surface area of microdroplets, and the H2O2 production, but the interfacial area is not the causation for the production of H2O2.

Mechanisms underlying the simultaneous formation of hydrogen peroxide and reducing behavior in microdroplets of water

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.