Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Flame Experiments at the Advanced Light Source: New Insights into Soot Formation Processes
Published on: May 26, 2014
Heterogeneous chemistry of organic acids on soot surfaces
Nicholas P Levitt1, Renyi Zhang, Huaxin Xue
1Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.
Abstract:
We have investigated the heterogeneous interaction between a number of carboxylic acids and soot generated from different fuel sources and formation mechanisms. A low-pressure fast flow reactor in conjunction with ion drift-chemical ionization mass spectrometry detection was employed to study uptake of monocarboxylic (benzoic, oleic, and steric) and dicarboxylic (glutaric, maleic, oxalic, and phthalic) acids on deposited soot surfaces formed by combustion of methane, propane, and kerosene. Most acids exhibited irreversible uptake on the soot surfaces and the uptake coefficient was measured in the range of 9 x 10(-4) to 1 x 10(-1) estimated based on the geometric surface areas. Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface areas of the deposited soot surfaces were measured and the soot bulk and surface chemical compositions were evaluated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. Plausible uptake mechanisms were discussed on the basis of the measured soot physiochemical properties by comparing the mono and dicarboxylic acids.
Related Concept Videos
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Saponification
The reaction requires a base in stoichiometric amounts, which participates in the reaction and is not regenerated later. So, the base acts as a...
Reactions of Carboxylic Acids: Introduction
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis
During hydrolysis, the ester is first activated towards nucleophilic attack through the protonation of the carboxyl oxygen atom by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the ester carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile and adds to the...
Physical Properties of Carboxylic Acids
Catalysis

