Uptake of Hydrogen Peroxide from the Gas Phase to Grain Boundaries: A Source in Snow and Ice

This work shows that hydrogen peroxidereadily enters grainboundaries in ice and snow directly from the atmosphere. Acceleratedreaction rates in these reservoirs have been described with an impacton air quality and snow composition. Hydrogen peroxide is a primary atmospheric oxidant significantin terminating gas-phase chemistry and sulfate formation in the condensedphase. Laboratory experiments have shown an unexpected oxidation accelerationby hydrogen peroxide in grain boundaries. While grain boundaries arefrequent in natural snow and ice and are known to host impurities,it remains unclear how and to which extent hydrogen peroxide entersthis reservoir. We present the first experimental evidence for thediffusive uptake of hydrogen peroxide into grain boundaries directlyfrom the gas phase. We have machined a novel flow reactor system featuringa drilled ice flow tube that allows us to discern the effect of theice grain boundary content on the uptake. Further, adsorption to theice surface for temperatures from 235 to 258 K was quantified. Disentanglingthe contribution of these two uptake processes shows that the transferof hydrogen peroxide from the atmosphere to snow at temperatures relevantto polar environments is considerably more pronounced than previouslythought. Further, diffusive uptake to grain boundaries appears tobe a novel mechanism for non-acidic trace gases to fill the highlyreactive impurity reservoirs in snow's grain boundaries.

Automated summary

This work demonstrates that hydrogen peroxide can easily enter grain boundaries in ice and snow directly from the atmosphere. The accelerated reaction rates in these reservoirs have significant implications for air quality and snow composition. Laboratory experiments have revealed an unexpected oxidation acceleration by hydrogen peroxide in grain boundaries. However, it remains unclear how and to what extent hydrogen peroxide enters this reservoir.