Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is abundant in the atmosphere, but the formation mechanisms and properties of SOA components, especially those formed through aqueous-phase reactions (i.e., aqSOA), remain poorly understood. To reduce this knowledge gap, we have performed laboratory and field studies to investigate the chemistry and properties of aqSOA, mainly through applying aerosol mass spectrometry. We conducted a field study to characterize fog waters and interstitial aerosol and found that aqueous reactions can be an important source of oxygenated and nitrogen-containing SOA in the atmosphere. We also conducted laboratory studies on the formation and transformation of aqSOA from phenols – an important class of volatile organics from biomass burning. Oligomer formation was observed as an important pathway for aqSOA formation, although it appears absent in the gaseous reactions of phenols. In addition, efforts have been made to analyze worldwide AMS data to elucidate the relative importance of aqSOA in the atmosphere. <br/>

Toward understanding aqueous-phase chemistry of secondary organic aerosol via aerosol mass spectrometry

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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