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Naturally produced organohalogens; Atmospheric simulation experiments on halogen activation in aerosol smog chamber facilities with sea salt and secondary organic aerosol (HALOSOA)

Subject Area Atmospheric Science
Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
Term from 2008 to 2015
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 24881704
 
Final Report Year 2016

Final Report Abstract

The installation of an aerosol smog chamber, made of FEP-Teflon film, with an inserted FEP-Teflon sheet for exposure of salt samples in a refrigerated laboratory with a solar simulator provides a unique facility for atmospheric research. The facility was shared with partners of the research unit with external partners providing optical detection methods for BrO, ClO, OClO, IO, atomic I, I2, IONO2, BrONO2 and chemical ionization mass spectrometry for numerous reactive halogen substances, enabling us to study photochemical halogen activation from simulated salt pans and from aerosol (doped salt samples and aerosol droplets). Ozone depletions above simulated salt pans and in the presence of deliquescent salt aerosol were observed to be catalyzed by bromide, leading to bromine explosions observed for the first time in laboratory experiments. The ultrasonic nebulizer was found to produce HONO during the production of the aerosol as an unexpected interference. BrO radicals were observed to occur simultaneously with the depletions and to be largely dependent on NOx, the relative humidity and on the level of bromide in the quasi-liquid layer of the salt pan/the aerosol droplets. ClO radicals and OClO were observed in addition. Time profiles of OH radicals and atomic Cl and Br were determined by gas chromatographic monitoring of a test mixture of hydrocarbons (toluene and alkanes) by these radical species. The aerosol experiments were accompanied by model calculations. The presence of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was observed to diminish the halogen activation above the salt pan and in the presence of photoactivated salt aerosol droplets, and uptake coefficients of reactive bromine species on three types of SOA (from catechol, guaiacol and α-pinene) were determined. The role of iron-(III) ions and hematite was investigated by photochemical experiments with a iron-doped salt pan and with salt aerosol, containing dissolved iron(III) or suspended hematite particles. Photo-Fenton reactions were found to activate Cl and Br efficiently in a catalytic cycle, and the source strengths per square cm of aerosol surface were quantified. An estimate of the global impact will require model calculations. Kinetic isotope effects of the reactions of OH and Cl with methane and methyl chloride were determined by gas-phase chamber experiments.

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