Direct sulfuric acid formation from the gas-phase oxidation of reduced-sulfur compounds
Abstract Sulfuric acid represents a fundamental precursor for new nanometre-sized atmospheric aerosol particles. These particles, after subsequent growth, may influence Earth´s radiative forcing directly, or indirectly through affecting the microphysical and radiative properties of clouds. Currently...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40586-2 |
| _version_ | 1797558449559568384 |
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| author | Torsten Berndt Erik H. Hoffmann Andreas Tilgner Frank Stratmann Hartmut Herrmann |
| author_facet | Torsten Berndt Erik H. Hoffmann Andreas Tilgner Frank Stratmann Hartmut Herrmann |
| author_sort | Torsten Berndt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Sulfuric acid represents a fundamental precursor for new nanometre-sized atmospheric aerosol particles. These particles, after subsequent growth, may influence Earth´s radiative forcing directly, or indirectly through affecting the microphysical and radiative properties of clouds. Currently considered formation routes yielding sulfuric acid in the atmosphere are the gas-phase oxidation of SO2 initiated by OH radicals and by Criegee intermediates, the latter being of little relevance. Here we report the observation of immediate sulfuric acid production from the OH reaction of emitted organic reduced-sulfur compounds, which was speculated about in the literature for decades. Key intermediates are the methylsulfonyl radical, CH3SO2, and, even more interestingly, its corresponding peroxy compound, CH3SO2OO. Results of modelling for pristine marine conditions show that oxidation of reduced-sulfur compounds could be responsible for up to ∼50% of formed gas-phase sulfuric acid in these areas. Our findings provide a more complete understanding of the atmospheric reduced-sulfur oxidation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:31:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-609b28ce89ed4fc3a5f780a4afac9f36 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:31:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-609b28ce89ed4fc3a5f780a4afac9f362023-11-20T09:59:55ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-08-0114111010.1038/s41467-023-40586-2Direct sulfuric acid formation from the gas-phase oxidation of reduced-sulfur compoundsTorsten Berndt0Erik H. Hoffmann1Andreas Tilgner2Frank Stratmann3Hartmut Herrmann4Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)Atmospheric Microphysics Department (AMP), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)Abstract Sulfuric acid represents a fundamental precursor for new nanometre-sized atmospheric aerosol particles. These particles, after subsequent growth, may influence Earth´s radiative forcing directly, or indirectly through affecting the microphysical and radiative properties of clouds. Currently considered formation routes yielding sulfuric acid in the atmosphere are the gas-phase oxidation of SO2 initiated by OH radicals and by Criegee intermediates, the latter being of little relevance. Here we report the observation of immediate sulfuric acid production from the OH reaction of emitted organic reduced-sulfur compounds, which was speculated about in the literature for decades. Key intermediates are the methylsulfonyl radical, CH3SO2, and, even more interestingly, its corresponding peroxy compound, CH3SO2OO. Results of modelling for pristine marine conditions show that oxidation of reduced-sulfur compounds could be responsible for up to ∼50% of formed gas-phase sulfuric acid in these areas. Our findings provide a more complete understanding of the atmospheric reduced-sulfur oxidation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40586-2 |
| spellingShingle | Torsten Berndt Erik H. Hoffmann Andreas Tilgner Frank Stratmann Hartmut Herrmann Direct sulfuric acid formation from the gas-phase oxidation of reduced-sulfur compounds Nature Communications |
| title | Direct sulfuric acid formation from the gas-phase oxidation of reduced-sulfur compounds |
| title_full | Direct sulfuric acid formation from the gas-phase oxidation of reduced-sulfur compounds |
| title_fullStr | Direct sulfuric acid formation from the gas-phase oxidation of reduced-sulfur compounds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Direct sulfuric acid formation from the gas-phase oxidation of reduced-sulfur compounds |
| title_short | Direct sulfuric acid formation from the gas-phase oxidation of reduced-sulfur compounds |
| title_sort | direct sulfuric acid formation from the gas phase oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40586-2 |
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