Measuring and Modeling the Physicochemical Properties of Organic Matter in Atmospheric Aerosols

这个项目的重点是有机气溶胶的性质，它们被认为在对流层中无处不在。第一个目标是通过实验室研究探索水溶液中的有机胶体如何改变大气气溶胶的基本物理化学性质，如其表面组成和吸湿性。第二个目标是提取所需的热力学参数(活度系数、吸附常数等)。从数据中得出纯有机气溶胶以及含有有机和无机成分的混合气溶胶的平衡水溶液模型。一系列有机溶液的吸水率和表面张力将作为pH和温度的函数进行测量，这些溶液是大气气溶胶中发现的混合物的代表。将探索表面组成，并研究胶束的可能形成。这些数据将被参数化，以用于热力学模型。在该项目下开发的包括有机物在内的混合溶液的定量平衡溶液模型，应有助于大气社区的广泛应用。更广泛的科学影响包括更好地了解大气气溶胶及其对气候的影响。研究生和博士后研究人员，包括代表人数不足的群体的成员，将通过该奖项获得支持。

This project is focused on the properties of organic aerosols, which are recognized to be ubiquitous in the troposphere. The first goal is to explore, through laboratory investigations, how organic colloids in aqueous solutions can alter the basic physicochemical properties of atmospheric aerosols such as their surface composition and hygroscopicity. The second goal is to extract the required thermodynamic parameters (activity coefficients, adsorption constants, etc.) from the data in order to formulate an equilibrium aqueous solution model for pure organic aerosols as well as mixed aerosols containing both organic and inorganic components. Water uptake and surface tension of a wide range of organic-containing solutions, representative of mixtures found in atmospheric aerosols, will be measured as a function of pH and temperature. Surface composition will be probed, and the possible formation of micelles will be studied. The data will be parameterized for use in the thermodynamic model.The quantitative equilibrium solution model developed under this project for mixed solutions, including organics, should be useful to the atmospheric community for a wide variety of applications. Broader scientific impacts include an improved understanding of atmospheric aerosols and their effects on climate. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, including members of underrepresented groups, will be supported through this award.