Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-385
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-385
05 Feb 2025
 | 05 Feb 2025

Ozonolysis of primary biomass burning organic aerosol particles: Insights into reactivity and phase state

Sophie Bogler, Jun Zhang, Rico K. Y. Cheung, Kun Li, Andre S. H. Prevot, Imad El Haddad, and David M. Bell

Abstract. Biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA) particles are a major contributor to atmospheric particulate matter with various effects on climate and public health. Quantifying these effects is limited by our understanding of the BBOA particles’ evolving chemical composition during atmospheric aging, driven by their exposure to atmospheric oxidants. This study explores the role of ozone (O3) as atmospheric oxidant in processing primary BBOA particles. We exposed particulate emissions from beech, spruce and pine wood fires to O3 in an oxidative flow reactor, monitoring their chemical evolution using high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometry (HR-AMS) and extractive electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (EESI-ToF). We found that the oxidative state of the particles increased with O3 exposure, as shown by the consistent, albeit minor, rise in O/C ratios. Analysis of the EESI-ToF data revealed specific molecular groups containing 18 and 20 carbon atoms, likely mainly abietic, linoleic, and oleic acid, as highly reactive toward O3 and driving the increase in oxidative state. At higher relative humidity, increased oxidation and loss of reactive species indicate that enhanced O3 diffusion into particles allows the ozonolysis to progress further, highlighting humidity's role in overcoming diffusion barriers that limit the ozonolysis in dry conditions. This study provides qualitative insights into the oxidative processing of primary BBOA particles in different phase states, presenting O3 as selective oxidant. Further research could focus on quantifying the progression of the ozonolysis, in particular the change in diffusion rates depending on relative humidity conditions or particle sizes.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

10 Sep 2025
Ozonolysis of primary biomass burning organic aerosol particles: insights into reactivity and phase state
Sophie Bogler, Jun Zhang, Rico K. Y. Cheung, Kun Li, André S. H. Prévôt, Imad El Haddad, and David M. Bell
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 10229–10243, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10229-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10229-2025, 2025
Short summary
Sophie Bogler, Jun Zhang, Rico K. Y. Cheung, Kun Li, Andre S. H. Prevot, Imad El Haddad, and David M. Bell

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-385', Anonymous Referee #1, 20 Feb 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', David Bell, 02 May 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-385', Anonymous Referee #2, 21 Mar 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', David Bell, 02 May 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-385', Anonymous Referee #1, 20 Feb 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', David Bell, 02 May 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-385', Anonymous Referee #2, 21 Mar 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', David Bell, 02 May 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by David Bell on behalf of the Authors (02 May 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (18 May 2025) by Theodora Nah
AR by David Bell on behalf of the Authors (27 May 2025)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

10 Sep 2025
Ozonolysis of primary biomass burning organic aerosol particles: insights into reactivity and phase state
Sophie Bogler, Jun Zhang, Rico K. Y. Cheung, Kun Li, André S. H. Prévôt, Imad El Haddad, and David M. Bell
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 10229–10243, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10229-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10229-2025, 2025
Short summary
Sophie Bogler, Jun Zhang, Rico K. Y. Cheung, Kun Li, Andre S. H. Prevot, Imad El Haddad, and David M. Bell
Sophie Bogler, Jun Zhang, Rico K. Y. Cheung, Kun Li, Andre S. H. Prevot, Imad El Haddad, and David M. Bell

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Authentic aerosols emitted from residential wood stoves and open burning processes are only slightly oxidized by ozone in the atmosphere. Under dry conditions the reaction does not proceed to completion, while under high humidity conditions the reactivity proceeds further. These results indicate the reactivity with ozone is likely impacted by aerosol phase state (e.g. aerosol viscosity).
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