Formation and photochemical properties of aqueous brown carbon through glyoxal reactions with glycine

Abstract

In recent years, brown carbon aerosols, as important contributors to light absorption and climate forcing by aerosols, have been forefront in the field of atmospheric research. Aqueous brown carbon can be formed through the aqueous reaction of glyoxal (GX) with glycine (Gly). GX–Gly mixtures exhibit changes in their optical properties in the ultraviolet and near visible regions, which can be monitored with ultraviolet/visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. In this study, we quantified the absorption and excitation–emission matrix spectra during the formation of aqueous brown carbon, which was generated from GX–Gly mixtures. The formation of brown carbon was further evidenced using several optical parameters, including absorption coefficient, absorption Angstrom exponents, mass absorption coefficient, effective quantum yields and fluorescence lifetime values. The results of hydrogen peroxide oxidation photolysis revealed the probable removal processes of the atmospheric aqueous brown carbon. The fluorescence lifetime values of the brown carbon samples were less than 10 ns. Liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry analysis was used to investigate the probable chemical composition of the brown carbon samples from GX–Gly mixtures.