1. Heterogeneous Chemistry of Gas-Phase Oxidants and Organic Aerosols Cindy DeForest Hauser, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28036
Atmospheric Aerosols Affect
Visibility
Climate
Human Health
Reactions between gas-phase oxidants and compounds in atmospheric aerosols impact particle
Composition
Toxicity
Physical and Chemical Properties
Aerosol Flow Tube (AFT)/FTIR is uniquely suited to probe the functional group composition of the reacted aerosols as a
function of
oxidant
concentration
and reaction
time.
AFT/FTIR analysis of the heterogeneous chemical reaction between aerosols composed of an unsaturated fatty acid and ozone reveals aldehyde and ester functionality indicating the presence of primary and secondary ozonolysis products.
The contribution of these products to the spectrum increases with increasing ozone concentration.
AFT/FTIR analysis of the ozonolysis of aerosols composed of different ratios of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids shows a decrease in the extent of reaction as the ratio of saturated fatty acid increases.