Open AccessCarbonaceous aerosols and their potential role in atmospheric chemistry
Author(s) -
Lary D. J.,
Shallcross D. E.,
Toumi R.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/1998jd100091
Subject(s) - oxidizing agent , troposphere , environmental chemistry , atmosphere (unit) , chemistry , aerosol , atmospheric chemistry , photochemistry , organic chemistry , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , ozone , geology , physics
This paper considers the nature of carbonaceous surfaces, the means by which they are activated, the nature of some functional groups that they support, and some reaction mechanisms that may be involved. Because of the strong affinity of carbonaceous surfaces for organic species and because of the ease with which compounds in a high oxidation state can oxidize the carbonaceous surface, it is highly likely that carbonaceous aerosols are interacting chemically with a range of organic species in ways that have, as yet, not been fully characterized but may significantly affect the oxidizing capacity of our atmosphere. If HONO is formed on the surface of carbonaceous aerosols then this could be a significant source of HO x as HONO is readily photolyzed to give OH, and it could explain the large values of HONO often observed in the troposphere. In general, the reduction of NO y on carbonaceous aerosols is an important consideration, and it is addressed here.