The role of long-lived reactive oxygen intermediates in the reaction of ozone with aerosol particles

• Published in: Nature chemistry 2011-04, Vol.3 (4), p.291-295
• Main Authors: Shiraiwa, Manabu, Sosedova, Yulia, Rouvière, Aurélie, Yang, Hong, Zhang, Yingyi, Abbatt, Jonathan P. D., Ammann, Markus, Pöschl, Ulrich
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/301/923/916; 639/638/169/824; 639/638/440; Adsorption; Aerosols; Aerosols - chemistry; Aging; Air pollution; Air quality; Analytical Chemistry; Benzo(a)pyrene - chemistry; Biochemistry; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Decomposition; Dust; Energy; Experimental data; Health risks; Inorganic Chemistry; Kinetics; Metabolism; Minerals - chemistry; Nitrogen Dioxide - chemistry; Organic Chemistry; Outdoor air quality; Oxidation; Oxygen; Oxygen - chemistry; Ozone - chemistry; Particulate matter; Particulate Matter - chemistry; Physical Chemistry; Physiology; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - chemistry; Reactive Oxygen Species - chemistry; Serum Albumin - chemistry; Soot; Soot - chemistry; Thermodynamics
• ISSN: 1755-4330; 1755-4349
• DOI: 10.1038/nchem.988

The heterogeneous reactions of O 3 with aerosol particles are of central importance to air quality. They are studied extensively, but the molecular mechanisms and kinetics remain unresolved. Based on new experimental data and calculations, we show that long-lived reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs) are formed. The chemical lifetime of these intermediates exceeds 100 seconds, which is much longer than the surface residence time of molecular O 3 (~10 −9  s). The ROIs explain and resolve apparent discrepancies between earlier quantum mechanical calculations and kinetic experiments. They play a key role in the chemical transformation and adverse health effects of toxic and allergenic air-particulate matter, such as soot, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and proteins. ROIs may also be involved in the decomposition of O 3 on mineral dust and in the formation and growth of secondary organic aerosols. Moreover, ROIs may contribute to the coupling of atmospheric and biospheric multiphase processes. It is shown that long-lived reactive oxygen intermediates are formed in heterogeneous reactions of ozone with aerosol particles, resolving apparent discrepancies between earlier quantum mechanical calculations and kinetic experiments. These intermediates play a key role in the chemical transformations and adverse health effects of toxic and allergenic air particulates.