Aerosol Chemistry Resolved by Mass Spectrometry: Linking Field Measurements of Cloud Condensation Nuclei Activity to Organic Aerosol Composition, Alexander L. Vogel, Johannes Schneider, Christina Müller-Tautges, Gavin J. Phillips, Mira L. Pöhlker, Diana Rose, Christoph Zuth, Ulla Makkonen, Hannele Hakola, John N. Crowley, Meinrat O. Andreae, Ulrich Pöschl, and Thorsten Hoffmann, Environ. Sci. Technol., 2016, 50 (20), pp 10823–10832.

Aerosol Chemistry Resolved by Mass Spectrometry: Insights into Particle Growth after Ambient New Particle Formation, Alexander L. Vogel, Johannes Schneider, Christina Müller-Tautges, Thomas Klimach, and Thorsten Hoffmann, Environ. Sci. Technol., 2016, 50 (20), pp 10814–10822.

Understanding aerosol chemistry is one of the most important topics within air quality. In Chapter 6 we emphasize many of the processes leading to aerosol formation. The above two related papers investigate aerosol hygroscopic properties of various organic compounds, and their structural composition connection to particle growth. The authors conclude with the belief that their ‘observations can help further the understanding of which biogenic precursors and which chemical processes drive particle growth after atmospheric new-particle formation.’

Secondary organic aerosols

Quantification of secondary organic aerosol in an Australian urban location, Keywood M., H. Guyes,P. Selleck, R.Gillett, Environmental Chemistry 8 (2) 115-126 (Published by CSIRO, May 2011).

The paper introduces the idea that secondary organic aerosols in an urban setting are an important source of aerosols (Section 6.1,). The paper extends our introductory discussion on combustion products and our section on organic condensation nuclei with data from a specific urban environment.

Organic aerosol formation downwind from the deepwater Horizon oil spill, de Gouw, J. A. et al., Science (2011) 1295-1299 (Published by the AAAS, March 2011).

This paper examines organic compounds, both gaseous and in the aerosol, associated with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill of April 2010. The data suggest that the most volatile compounds are found in an atmospheric spike near the source of the oil release, but beyond this there are compounds that make up a secondary organic aerosol. It is hypothesized that the precursors for these aerosol particles are the less volatile components of the petroleum that are present in a wider area beyond the original source of release. This is another type of condensation (or secondary) aerosol in addition to those described.

Metals in flue gases

A kinetic investigation of unimolecular reactions involving trace metals at post-combustion flue gas conditions, Wilcox J., Environmental Chemistry 8 (2) 207-212 (Published by CSRIO, May 2011).

We introduce air pollution control devices in section 6.3 (p 145) for removal of aerosol particles and briefly mention on page 137 that low-boiling metals will condense onto these particles. This paper discusses some of the chemistry of some of these metals, e.g. Hg and Se specifically (post-combustion) and provides rate constant expressions for their reactions, based on theoretical calculations.