Unprecedented Ambient Sulfur Trioxide (SO₃) Detection: Possible Formation Mechanism and Atmospheric Implications.

ABSTRACT: Sulfur trioxide (SO₃) is a crucial compound for atmospheric sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) formation, acid rain formation, and other atmospheric physicochemical processes. During the daytime, SO₃ is mainly produced from the photo-oxidation of SO₂ by OH radicals. However, the sources of SO₃ during the early morning and night, when OH radicals are scarce, are not fully understood. We report results from two field measurements in urban Beijing during winter and summer 2019, using a nitrate-CI-APi-LTOF (chemical ionization-atmospheric pressure interface-long-time-of-flight) mass spectrometer to detect atmospheric SO₃ and H₂SO₄. Our results show the level of SO₃ was higher during the winter than

SUBMITTER: Yao L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7659313 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature