Formation and evolution of environmentally persistent free radicals in charcoal and soot generated from biomass...

Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) are emerging pollutants that are highly reactive and toxic, posing potential health risks. Biomass burning is a significant source of EPFRs, but there has been a notable gap in research regarding the EPFRs present in charcoal and soot produced from the same combustion process. Our study detected EPFRs in both charcoal and soot, but there were significant differences in their characteristics. The EPFR concentrations in charcoal were much higher than that in soot, by approximately 2-4 orders of magnitude, suggesting that charcoal may be more chemically reactive. Differences in the formation mechanisms between charcoal and soot were found to result in variations in the characteristics of EPFRs observed in each material. Furthermore, the ability of EPFRs to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) differed considerably between charcoal and soot. Charcoal exhibited a strong ability to produce ROS, including ¹O₂ and ·OH radicals, and the abundances of ¹O₂ was further enhanced (∼1.2 -2.1 times) after illumination. In contrast, only the ¹O₂ radical was found in soot produced at 300 °C. These findings enhanced our understanding of the environmental impact and potential toxicity of EPFRs, offering valuable insights for evaluating the risks associated with wildfires and agricultural burning.