Effects of particle acidity and UV light on secondary organic aerosol formation from oxidation of aromatics in the absence of NOx

Recent laboratory observations have shown that particle acidity increases secondary organic aerosol (SOA) yields. However, these studies have mainly focused on biogenic precursors such as isoprene and terpenes. In this paper, the effects of particle acidity on the SOA yields from aromatic precursors under both dark and UV–visible light conditions were characterized through controlled chamber experiments. SOA was produced from oxidation of toluene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (135-TMB) with OH radicals created by ozonolysis of 2-methyl-2-butene (MB). Particle acidity, described with proton concentrations, varied with inorganic seed aerosol composition and humidity (20–52%). Overall, in the presence of acidic seeds, greater increases in SOA yields were observed for the toluene system than the 135-TMB system. UV irradiation reduced SOA yields for both toluene and 135-TMB systems to different extents.