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Multiphase Ozone Oxidation of Catechol and Its Products after OH- and Light-Driven Processing
Sithumi M Liyanage1, Meredith Schervish2, Habeeb H Al-Mashala1
1Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, United States.
ACS Earth & Space Chemistry
|November 26, 2025
Summary
Wildfire emissions like catechol form secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in clouds. Subsequent ozone oxidation of this SOA, especially after UV light exposure, significantly slows down reactive species, increasing their atmospheric lifetime.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Biomass Burning Emissions
Background:
- Phenolic compounds, particularly catechol, are abundant in biomass burning emissions.
- Catechol oxidation in clouds forms secondary organic aerosol (SOA), contributing to brown carbon (BrC) chromophores.
- Submicron SOA particles undergo further processing by oxidants and light after cloud evaporation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the multiphase ozone oxidation of catechol-derived SOA.
- Simulate cloud processing (OH-initiated oxidation) and post-cloud processing (ozone and light-driven oxidation).
- Determine the impact of relative humidity (RH) and UV irradiation on ozone uptake and SOA properties.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a coated-wall flow-tube apparatus to study ozone reaction kinetics.
- Employed kinetic multilayer modeling to analyze experimental data and infer diffusivity.
- Conducted microscopy experiments to qualitatively assess material properties.
Main Results:
- Ozone uptake coefficients for OH-processed catechol films were 2 × 10-6 (0% RH) and 9 × 10-6 (50% RH).
- OH- and light-processed films showed lower uptake coefficients: 2 × 10-7 (0% RH) and 4 × 10-6 (50% RH).
- Catechol SOA plasticized with water vapor but vitrified under UV irradiation, affecting ozone diffusion.
Conclusions:
- Ozone diffusion is significantly slower in vitrified SOA (post-UV irradiation) and at low RH.
- Slower diffusion can extend the atmospheric lifetime of reactive species from hours to over a day.
- Understanding these processes is crucial for modeling atmospheric aging of biomass burning aerosols.
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