Atmospheric aerosols impact visibility and affect human health and climate.  While nucleation from sulfuric acid accounts for some of the new particles formed in the atmosphere, recent field studies indicate that other species are involved in new particle formation as well.  Methanesulfonic acid (CH3SO3H, MSA) is an atmospheric oxidation product of a variety of organosulfur compounds, which are emitted in large quantities, particularly from the ocean.  Amines have a variety of both biogenic and anthropogenic sources, and have been shown to play an important role in particle formation with sulfuric acid.  Here we report results from laboratory studies of particle formation from the gas phase reactions of MSA with several amines.  Experiments were performed in a unique, slow flow, large volume aerosol flow-tube reactor at 295 K and 1 atm, under conditions of varying relative humidity.  Experimental results are compared to an ab initio model describing cluster formation between MSA and the amines.  The results of this comparison indicate an important role for water in the gas phase reaction of MSA and the amines to form particles.  Atmospheric implications from this new source of particles are discussed.

Atmospheric particle formation and growth from methanesulfonic acid and amines

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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