Phys.org April 12, 2021
Aerosol particles fill the atmosphere and play a critical role in air quality. These particles contribute to poor air quality and absorb and reflect solar radiation, affecting the climate system. An international team of researchers (Canada, USA – UC Irvine, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Harvard University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Germany) used optical and fluorescence microscopy, to present images that showed the coexistence of two noncrystalline phases for real-world samples as well as for laboratory-generated samples under simulated atmospheric conditions. The results revealed that atmospheric particles can undergo liquid–liquid phase separations. The study focused on particles containing mixtures of lubricating oil from gas vehicles, oxidized organic material from fossil fuel combustion and trees, and inorganic material from fossil fuel combustion. Depending on the properties of the lubricating oil and the oxidized organic material, different number of liquid phases appeared resulting in different impacts on air quality and climate. The study provides for better understanding of atmospheric aerosols and should lead to better predictions of air quality and climate, and better prediction of what is going to happen in the next 50 years…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Schematic of possible phase transitions of particles containing mixtures of oxygenated organic material and ammonium sulfate. Credit: PNAS August 14, 2012 109 (33) 13188-13193