Large contribution of in-cloud production of secondary organic aerosol from biomass burning emissions

Abstract

Abstract Organic compounds released from wildfires and residential biomass burning play a crucial role in shaping the composition of the atmosphere. The solubility and subsequent reactions of these compounds in the aqueous phase of clouds and fog remain poorly understood. Nevertheless, these compounds have the potential to become an important source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). In this study, we simulated the aqueous SOA (aqSOA) from residential wood burning emissions under atmospherically relevant conditions of gas-liquid phase partitioning, using a wetted-wall flow reactor (WFR). We analyzed and quantified the specific compounds present in these emissions at a molecular level and determined their solubility in clouds. Our findings reveal that while 1% of organic compounds are fully water-soluble, 19% exhibit moderate solubility and can partition into the aqueous phase in a thick cloud. Furthermore, it is found that the aqSOA generated in our laboratory experiments has a substantial fraction being attributed to the formation of oligomers in the aqueous phase. We also determined an aqSOA yield of 20% from residential wood combustion, which surpasses current estimates based on gas-phase oxidation. These results indicate that in-cloud chemistry of organic gases emitted from wood burning can serve as an efficient pathway to produce organic aerosols, thus potentially influencing climate and air quality.