PNNL

Abstract

Long-pathlength infrared absorption spectroscopy was used to investigate nitric acid-soot aerosol chemistry at 298 K and 0.5 % relative humidity. Experiments were performed by introducing nitric acid vapor (PHNO3~3 Pa, Ptotal~40 kPa) into a teflon-coated chamber and initiating acquisition of infrared spectra at 3 minute time intervals. After 36 minutes of data collection, soot powder was rapidly expanded into nitric acid contained in the chamber to generate a soot-HNO3 aerosol. Infrared spectra collected before, and after, soot introduction to the chamber were used to characterize chamber wall reaction processes and soot aerosol chemistry, respectively. Three soot types were investigated (Degussa FW2, Cabot Monarch 1000, and crystalline graphite), each yielding similar chemistry. Upon soot introduction to the chamber both HNO3 uptake and NO2 production occurred, with the molar ratio of HNO3 uptake to NO2 production varying from 1.2 to 2.9 for the three soot types studied. Unreacted HNO3 was present at the conclusion of each of the aerosol experiments, indicating incomplete conversion of HNO3 into NO2. This observation suggested that "active" sites at the soot surface responsible for the reduction of HNO3 are not regenerated (i.e., formed) in the reaction process. In essence, a titration occurred between these active sites and HNO3. The NO2 concentrations produced, the soot mass concentrations used, and the BET measured specific surface area of the powders allowed computation of the surface density of active sites of ~4.0x10-18 m2/active site (describing all three powders studied). This is the first reported measurement of surface density of active sites for nitric acid chemistry on soot. Since atmospheric heterogeneous reactions that exhibit surface deactivation may, in principle, affect trace gas concentration, we perform an assessment in this regard.