Laboratory Studies of the Role of Amines in Particle Formation, Growth and Climate
- Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States)
Organosulfur compounds have a variety of sources, particularly biological processes in the oceans. Their oxidation in air forms sulfur dioxide, which is further oxidized to sulfuric acid, as well as methanesulfonic acid (MSA). While sulfuric acid is a well known precursor to particles in air, MSA had not been regarded as a source of new particle formation. Laboratory studies were carried out under this project that showed MSA forms new particles quite efficiently in the presence of amines and water vapor. The data could be reproduced with a relatively simple kinetics model representing cluster formation and growth, which is promising for representing this chemistry in global climate models. The initial steps in the kinetics scheme are based on quantum chemical calculations of likely clusters. The organosulfur chemistry was introduced into an atmospheric model for southern California and used to predict the impact of going to a fossil-fuel free world in which anthropogenic emissions of SO2 are removed, but the natural processes remain.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0006606
- OSTI ID:
- 1169440
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-UCI-0006606
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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