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Partially soluble organics as cloud condensation nuclei: Role of trace soluble and surface active species
Author(s) -
Broekhuizen K.,
Kumar P. Pradeep,
Abbatt J. P. D.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl018203
Subject(s) - cloud condensation nuclei , adipic acid , surface tension , solubility , condensation , succinic acid , sulfate , aerosol , chemical engineering , trace gas , chemistry , materials science , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , physics , engineering
The ability of partially soluble organic species to act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) has been studied. A Köhler model incorporating solute solubility and droplet surface tension describes the behavior of solid adipic and succinic acid particles, whereas solid azelaic acid activates much more efficiently that predicted. In addition, it was shown that trace levels of either sulfate or surface active species have a dramatic effect on the activation of adipic acid, a moderately soluble organic, as predicted by the full Köhler model. For internally mixed particles in the atmosphere, these effects will greatly enhance the role of organic aerosols as CCN.