Atmospheric oxidation of biogenic and man-made volatile organics results in products that, depending on their volatility and solubility, can partition in particulate matter or in liquid water. A number of these oxidation products possess functional groups that are susceptible to direct photolysis by solar radiation. Information on photochemistry of even the simplest organic compounds in condensed phases is currently lacking. To better understand the role of direct photolysis in controlling the fate of atmospheric organics in particles and in cloud and fog droplets, we have investigated photochemistry in the following systems: representative organic peroxides and carbonyls in water, ice, and organic matrices; secondary organic material dissolved in water; oxidized organic films. Our measurements suggest that direct photolysis processes can compete with heterogeneous and aqueous phase oxidation by the hydroxyl radicals under atmospherically relevant conditions.

Photolysis of atmospheric organics in water and aerosols

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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