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Criegee Intermediate as a Major Atmospheric Sink for Methane Sulfonamide: A Pathway to Functionalized Hydroperoxides
Syed Ibrahim J1, Surabhi Gupta2, Goutam Chowdhury3
1Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, TN 632014, India.
Environmental Science & Technology
|April 3, 2026
Summary
Criegee intermediates (CIs) are a newly identified major sink for atmospheric methane sulfonamide (MSAM), significantly shortening its atmospheric lifetime. This finding is crucial for understanding marine sulfur cycling and climate impacts.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Marine Sulfur Cycling
- Climate Science
Background:
- Atmospheric organosulfur compounds influence marine chemistry and climate.
- Methane sulfonamide (MSAM) in the Arabian Sea has an unexpectedly short atmospheric lifetime.
- Existing data suggests removal pathways beyond OH radical reactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify major atmospheric removal pathways for MSAM.
- Accurately predict MSAM atmospheric lifetimes and sulfur cycling.
- Assess the climate implications of MSAM's atmospheric fate.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Density Functional Theory (DFT) for computational studies.
- Employed master-equation kinetic modeling.
- Investigated reactions between MSAM and various Criegee intermediates (CIs).
Main Results:
- Identified reactions with Criegee intermediates as a major MSAM sink.
- MSAM reacts with CH2OO and anti-CH3CHOO 10-fold faster than with OH radicals.
- CI-mediated reaction rates are temperature and structure-dependent, reducing MSAM lifetime in colder conditions.
Conclusions:
- CI-mediated reactions are a key process controlling MSAM's atmospheric fate.
- These reactions significantly shorten MSAM's atmospheric lifetime compared to OH radical reactions.
- Understanding these sinks is vital for marine aerosol composition and climate modeling.
Keywords:
atmospheric reaction kineticsatmospheric sulfur−nitrogen speciesfunctionalized hydroperoxidesmarine boundary layer chemistrysecondary aerosol formationMore Related Videos
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