Uptake and reaction kinetics of α-pinene and β-pinene with sulfuric acid solutions

The uptake and reaction kinetics of α-pinene and β-pinene with H2SO4 solutions were studied over the composition range of 37.0–80.0 wt.% in this Letter. The measurements have identified the occurrence of reversible uptake and irreversible reaction in acid solution. The initial and steady-state uptake coefficients (γi and γs-s) were acquired for the first time, displaying a strong dependence on solution acidity, and β-pinene is more reactive than α-pinene. Atmospheric implication was discussed based on the corresponding uptake coefficients, which demonstrates that this heterogeneous acid-catalyzed reaction might be a significant contributor to SOA loading in concentrated acidic aerosols.