Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-570
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-570
04 Mar 2025
 | 04 Mar 2025

Roles of pH, ionic strength, and sulfate in the aqueous nitrate-mediated photooxidation of green leaf volatiles

Yuting Lyu, Taekyu Joo, Ruihan Ma, Mark Kristan Espejo Cabello, Tianye Zhou, Shun Yeung, Cheuk Ki Wong, Yifang Gu, Yiming Qin, and Theodora Nah

Abstract. Biotic and abiotic stresses can lead to terrestrial green plants releasing green leaf volatiles (GLVs), which can partition into atmospheric aqueous phases where they can undergo oxidation to form aqueous secondary organic aerosols (aqSOA). Anthropogenic emission changes have resulted in nitrate becoming an increasingly important component of atmospheric aqueous phases, which has significant implications for aqSOA formation since nitrate photolysis produces oxidants. Nevertheless, sulfate remains the main inorganic aqueous component in most regions, and thus controls the pH and ionic strength of atmospheric aqueous phases. We report results from laboratory investigations of the effects of pH, ionic strength, and sulfate on the reaction kinetics and aqSOA formation of the aqueous nitrate-mediated photooxidation of four GLVs, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, trans-2-hexen-1-ol, trans-2-penten-1-ol, and 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol. Our results showed that the aqueous reaction medium conditions, i.e., dilute cloud/fog vs. concentrated aqueous aerosol conditions, governed the effects that pH, ionic strength, and sulfate have on the GLV degradation rates and aqSOA mass yields. Most notably, reactions initiated by sulfate photolysis will have significant effects on the GLV degradation rates and aqSOA mass yields in aqueous aerosols, but not in cloud/fog droplets. In addition to providing new insights into aqSOA formation from the aqueous reactions of GLVs in regions with substantial concentrations of nitrate in cloud, fog, and aqueous aerosols, this study highlights how nitrate and sulfate photochemistries can couple together to influence the reactions of water-soluble organic compounds and their aqSOA formation in aqueous aerosols, which have implications for our evaluations of aqueous organic aerosol lifetimes and composition.

Competing interests: At least one of the (co-)authors is a member of the editorial board of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. The peer-review process was guided by an independent editor, and the authors also have no other competing interests to declare.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

18 Sep 2025
Roles of pH, ionic strength, and sulfate in the aqueous nitrate-mediated photooxidation of green leaf volatiles
Yuting Lyu, Taekyu Joo, Ruihan Ma, Mark Kristan Espejo Cabello, Tianye Zhou, Shun Yeung, Cheuk Ki Wong, Yifang Gu, Yiming Qin, and Theodora Nah
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 10731–10745, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10731-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10731-2025, 2025
Short summary
Yuting Lyu, Taekyu Joo, Ruihan Ma, Mark Kristan Espejo Cabello, Tianye Zhou, Shun Yeung, Cheuk Ki Wong, Yifang Gu, Yiming Qin, and Theodora Nah

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-570', Anonymous Referee #1, 18 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-570', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 Apr 2025
  • AC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-570', Theodora Nah, 04 Jun 2025
  • AC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-570', Theodora Nah, 07 Jun 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-570', Anonymous Referee #1, 18 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-570', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 Apr 2025
  • AC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-570', Theodora Nah, 04 Jun 2025
  • AC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-570', Theodora Nah, 07 Jun 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Theodora Nah on behalf of the Authors (04 Jun 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (18 Jun 2025) by Ryan Sullivan
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (19 Jun 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (25 Jun 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (25 Jun 2025) by Ryan Sullivan
AR by Theodora Nah on behalf of the Authors (26 Jun 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (01 Jul 2025) by Ryan Sullivan
AR by Theodora Nah on behalf of the Authors (03 Jul 2025)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

18 Sep 2025
Roles of pH, ionic strength, and sulfate in the aqueous nitrate-mediated photooxidation of green leaf volatiles
Yuting Lyu, Taekyu Joo, Ruihan Ma, Mark Kristan Espejo Cabello, Tianye Zhou, Shun Yeung, Cheuk Ki Wong, Yifang Gu, Yiming Qin, and Theodora Nah
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 10731–10745, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10731-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-10731-2025, 2025
Short summary
Yuting Lyu, Taekyu Joo, Ruihan Ma, Mark Kristan Espejo Cabello, Tianye Zhou, Shun Yeung, Cheuk Ki Wong, Yifang Gu, Yiming Qin, and Theodora Nah
Yuting Lyu, Taekyu Joo, Ruihan Ma, Mark Kristan Espejo Cabello, Tianye Zhou, Shun Yeung, Cheuk Ki Wong, Yifang Gu, Yiming Qin, and Theodora Nah

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Short summary
We investigated the aqueous nitrate-mediated photooxidation of four green leaf volatiles (GLVs). The aqueous reaction medium conditions, dilute cloud/fog vs. concentrated aqueous aerosol conditions, governed the effects that pH, ionic strength, and sulfate have on the GLV degradation rates and aqSOA mass yields. Most notably, reactions initiated by sulfate photolysis have significant effects in aqueous aerosols, but not in cloud/fog droplets.
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