Interaction of acetone, hydroxyacetone, acetaldehyde and benzaldehyde with the surface of water ice and HNO3·3H2O ice

Abstract

Oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) influence the oxidative properties of the atmosphere, and their transport from the ground may occur by scavenging by the HNO₃-rich supercooled water droplets found in polluted convective air masses. With infrared spectroscopy, we have studied the interactions of four typical atmospheric OVOCs (acetone, hydroxyacetone, acetaldehyde and benzaldehyde) with model surfaces of water ice and of trihydrated nitric acid (NAT) ice. We show that these molecules weakly adsorb on water ice and NAT by hydrogen bonding. No chemical reaction occurs between the molecules and the NAT substrate, the OVOCs remaining intact when in contact with hydrated HNO₃ in atmospheric ice clouds.