Indirect Photochemical Formation of COS and CS2 in Natural Waters: Kinetics and Reaction Mechanisms

Mahsa Modiri Gharehveran, Purdue University

Abstract

COS and CS2 are sulfur compounds that are formed in natural waters. These compounds are also volatile, which leads them move into the atmosphere and serve as critical precursors to sulfate aerosols. Sulfate aerosols are known to counteract global warming by reflecting solar radiation. One major source of COS and CS2 stems from the ocean. While previous studies have linked COS and CS2 formation in these waters to the indirect photolysis of organic sulfur compounds, much of the chemistry behind how this occurs remains unclear. This study examined this chemistry by evaluating how different organic sulfur precursors, water quality constituents, and temperature affected COS and CS2 formation in natural waters. In the first part of this thesis (chapters 2 and 3), nine natural waters ranging in salinity were spiked with various organic sulfur precursors (e.g. cysteine, cystine, dimethylsulfide (DMS) and methionine) exposed to simulated sunlight over varying exposures. Other water quality conditions including the presence of O2, CO and temperature were also varied. Results indicated that COS and CS2 formation increased up to 11× and 4×, respectively, after 12 h of sunlight while diurnal cycling exhibited varied effects. COS and CS2 formation were also strongly affected by the DOC concentration, organic sulfur precursor type, O2 concentration, and temperature while salinity differences and CO addition did not play a significant role. To then specifically evaluate the role of DOM in cleaner matrices, COS and CS2 formation was examined in synthetic waters (see chapters 4 and 5). In this case, synthetic waters were spiked with different types of DOM isolates ranging from freshwater to ocean water along with either cysteine or DMS and exposed to simulated sunlight for up to 4 h. Surprisingly, CS2 was not formed under any of the tested conditions, indicating that other water quality constituents, aside from DOM, were responsible for its formation. However, COS formation was observed. Interestingly, COS formation with cysteine was fairly similar for all DOM types, but increasing DOM concentration actually decreased formation. This is likely due to the dual role of DOM on simultaneously forming and quenching the reactive intermediates (RIs). Additional experiments with quenching agents to RIs (e.g. 3DOM* and OH) further indicated that OH was not involved in COS formation with cysteine but 3DOM* was involved. This result differed with DMS in that OH and 3DOM* were both found to be involved. In addition, treating DOM isolates with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) to reduce ketone/aldehydes to their corresponding alcohols increased COS formation, which implied that the RIs formed by these functional groups in DOM were not involved. The alcohols formed by this process were not likely to act as quenching agents since they have been shown to low in reactivity. Since ketones are known to form high-energy-tripletstates of DOM while quinones are known to form low-energy-triplet-states of DOM, removing ketones from the system further supported the role of low-energy-triplet-states on COS formation. This was initially hypothesized by findings from the testes on DOM types. In the end there are several major research contributions from this thesis.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Shah, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Biogeochemistry|Atmospheric sciences|Chemistry|Organic chemistry|Water Resources Management

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