Formation of Secondary Organic Aerosols Through Photooxidation of Isoprene (original) (raw)

Detailed organic analysis of natural aerosols from the Amazonian rain forest showed considerable quantities of previously unobserved polar organic compounds, identified as a mixture of two diastereoisomeric 2-methyltetrols. These polyols can be explained by OH radical-initiated photooxidation of isoprene. They possess low vapor pressure, which enables them to condense onto preexisting particles. The annual global production of polyols resulting from isoprene photooxidation is estimated at about 2 teragrams, a significant portion of the secondary organic aerosol production from biogenic sources.