Distinct Oligomerization of Lactic Acid in Aqueous Microdroplets.

ABSTRACT: Lactic acid (LA), a fundamental building block for poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a key component of atmospheric organic aerosols, undergoes self-esterification to form oligomers in aqueous environments. While this process has been well studied in bulk solutions, its reaction mechanism in aqueous microdroplets under ambient conditions remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the reaction of LA in single microdroplets under temperature- and relative humidity (RH)-controlled conditions using in situ confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy. A reaction-evaporation model incorporating surface and bulk reaction pathways, evaporation, and water partitioning quantitatively reproduced the observed reaction kinetics. Both the model and experimental results show that LA undergoes rapid intermole

SUBMITTER: Roy TK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12621245 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature