On molecular chirality within naturally occurring secondary organic aerosol particles from the central Amazon Basin

Imee Su Martinez; Mark D. Peterson; Carlena J. Ebben; Patrick L. Hayes; Paulo Artaxo; Scot T. Martin; Franz M. Geiger

doi:10.1039/C1CP20428A

On molecular chirality within naturally occurring secondary organic aerosol particles from the central Amazon Basin

Imee Su Martinez,†^a Mark D. Peterson,†^a Carlena J. Ebben,^a Patrick L. Hayes,^b Paulo Artaxo,^c Scot T. Martin^d and Franz M. Geiger*^a

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, USA

^b Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, and Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences, Boulder, USA

^c Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Travessa R, 187, São Paulo, Brazil

^d School of Engineering and Applied Sciences & Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, USA

Abstract

In this perspectives article, we reflect upon the existence of chirality in atmospheric aerosol particles. We then show that organic particles collected at a field site in the central Amazon Basin under pristine background conditions during the wet and dry seasons consist of chiral secondary organic material. We show how the chiral response from the aerosol particles can be imaged directly without the need for sample dissolution, solvent extraction, or sample preconcentration. By comparing the chiral-response images with optical images, we show that chiral responses always originate from particles on the filter, but not all aerosol particles produce chiral signals. The intensity of the chiral signal produced by the size resolved particles strongly indicates the presence of chiral secondary organic material in the particle. Finally, we discuss the implications of our findings on chiral atmospheric aerosol particles in terms of climate-related properties and source apportionment.

Article information

https://doi.org/10.1039/C1CP20428A

Article type

Perspective

Submitted

17 Feb 2011

Accepted

04 May 2011

First published

01 Jun 2011

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Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011,13, 12114-12122

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On molecular chirality within naturally occurring secondary organic aerosol particles from the central Amazon Basin

I. S. Martinez, M. D. Peterson, C. J. Ebben, P. L. Hayes, P. Artaxo, S. T. Martin and F. M. Geiger, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 12114 DOI: 10.1039/C1CP20428A

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Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

On molecular chirality within naturally occurring secondary organic aerosol particles from the central Amazon Basin

Abstract

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On molecular chirality within naturally occurring secondary organic aerosol particles from the central Amazon Basin

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