An isotope view on ionising radiation as a source of sulphuric acid

Martin Andreas Bødker Enghoff, Nicolai Christian Bork, S. Hattori, C. Meusinger, M. Nakagawa, Jens Olaf Pepke Pedersen, S. Danielache, Y. Ueno, M. S. Johnson, N. Yoshida, Henrik Svensmark

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    615 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Sulphuric acid is an important factor in aerosol nucleation and growth. It has been shown that ions enhance the formation of sulphuric acid aerosols, but the exact mechanism has remained undetermined. Furthermore some studies have found a deficiency in the sulphuric acid budget, suggesting a missing source. In this study the production of sulphuric acid from SO<sub>2</sub> through a number of different pathways is investigated. The production methods are standard gas phase oxidation by OH radicals produced by ozone photolysis with UV light, liquid phase oxidation by ozone, and gas phase oxidation initiated by gamma rays. The distributions of stable sulphur isotopes in the products and substrate were measured using isotope ratio mass spectrometry. All methods produced sulphate enriched in <sup>34</sup>S and we find a δ<sup>34</sup>S value of 8.7 ± 0.4‰ (1 standard deviation) for the UV-initiated OH reaction. Only UV light (Hg emission at 253.65 nm) produced a clear non-mass-dependent excess of <sup>33</sup>S. The pattern of isotopic enrichment produced by gamma rays is similar, but not equal, to that produced by aqueous oxidation of SO<sub>2</sub> by ozone. This, combined with the relative yields of the experiments, suggests a mechanism in which ionising radiation may lead to hydrated ion clusters that serve as nanoreactors for S(IV) to S(VI) conversion.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions
    Volume12
    Issue number2
    Pages (from-to)5039-5064
    ISSN1680-7367
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2012

    Keywords

    • Chemistry
    • Physics and Astronomy
    • Earth and Environmental Sciences

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'An isotope view on ionising radiation as a source of sulphuric acid'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this