Influence of Ammonia and Relative Humidity on the Formation and Composition of Secondary Brown Carbon from Oxidation of 1-Methylnaphthalene and Longifolene

Improved understanding of the optical properties of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles is needed to better predict their climate impacts. Here, SOA was produced by reacting 1-methylnaphthalene or longifolene with hydroxyl radicals (OH) under variable ammonia (NH3), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and relative humidity (RH) conditions. In the presence of NH3 and NOx, longifolene-derived aerosols had relatively high single scattering albedo (SSA) values and low absorption coefficients at 375 nm independent of RH, suggesting that the longifolene SOA is mostly scattering. In 1-methylnaphthalene experiments, the resulting SSA and SOA mass absorption coefficient (MAC(org)) values suggest the formation of light-absorbing SOA, and the addition of high NOx and high NH3 enhanced the SOA absorption. Under intermediate-NOx dry conditions, the MACorg values increased from 0.13 m(2) g(-1) in NH3-free conditions to 0.28 m(2) g(-1) in high-NH3 conditions. Under high-NH3 conditions, the MAC(org) value further increased to 0.36 m(2) g(-1) with an increase in RH. Under dry high-NOx conditions, the MAC(org) value increased from 0.42 to 0.67 m(2) g(-1) with the addition of NH3, while with elevated RH, the MAC(org) value reached 0.70 m(2) g(-1). The time series of MAC(org) showed increasing trends only in the presence of NH3. Composition analysis of SOA suggests that organonitrates, nitroorganics, and other nitrogen-containing organic compounds (NOCs) are potential chromophores in the 1-methylnaphthalene SOA. Significant formation of NOCs was observed in the presence of high-NOx and NH3 and was enhanced under elevated RH.

Automated summary

This study investigated the optical properties of SOA particles derived from longifolene and 1-methylnaphthalene under different experimental conditions. The results showed that longifolene-derived aerosols were mainly scattering, while 1-methylnaphthalene SOA exhibited light-absorbing properties. High levels of NH3 and NOx enhanced the absorption of SOA, with the effect being more prominent under high humidity conditions.