1. |
- Schyman, Patric, et al.
(author)
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Hydrogen Abstraction from Deoxyribose by a Neighbouring Uracil-5-yl Radical
- 2007
-
In: Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 1463-9076 .- 1463-9084. ; 9, s. 5975-5979
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hydrogen abstraction from the C1 and C2 positions of deoxyadenosine by a neighbouring uracil-5-yl radical in the 5-AU-3 DNA sequence is explored using DFT. This hydrogen abstraction is the first step in a sequence leading to single or double strand break in DNA. The uracil-5-yl radical can be the result of photolysis or low-energy electron (LEE) attachment. If the radical is produced by photolysis the neighbouring adenine will become a cation radical and if it is produced by LEE the adenine will remain neutral. The hydrogen abstraction reactions for both cases were investigated. It is concluded that it is possible for the uracil-5-yl to abstract hydrogen from C1 and C2. When adenine is neutral there is a preference for the C1 site and when the adenine is a radical cation the C2 site is the preferred. If adenine is positively charged, the rate-limiting step when abstracting hydrogen from C1 is the formation of an intermediate crosslink between uracil and adenine. This crosslink might be avoided in dsDNA, making C1 the preferred site for abstraction.
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2. |
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3. |
- Schyman, Patric, et al.
(author)
-
Hydroxyl radical - thymine adduct induced DNA damages
- 2008
-
In: Chemical Physics Letters. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 0009-2614 .- 1873-4448. ; 458:1-3, s. 186-189
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- DNA damages caused by a 5-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymine-6-yl radical (5-OHT-6yl) abstracting a C20 hydrogen from a neighboring sugar (inter-H abstraction) have been theoretically investigated using hybrid DFT in gas phase and in water solution. The inter-H abstraction was here shown to be comparable in energy (24 kcal mol 1) with the intra-H abstraction in which the 5-OHT-6yl abstracts a C20 hydrogen from its own sugar. The effect of a neutrally or a negatively charged phosphate group was also studied and the results show no significant impact on the activation energy of the hydrogen abstraction whereas base release and strand break reactions are affected.
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4. |
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5. |
- Maurina Morais, Eduardo, 1989, et al.
(author)
-
Solvent-free synthesis of protic ionic liquids. Synthesis, characterization and computational studies of triazolium based ionic liquids
- 2022
-
In: Journal of Molecular Liquids. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-7322. ; 360
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A series of triazolium and imidazolium based protic ionic liquids were synthesized using a solvent-free method designed to address several limitations encountered with other commonly used methods. Using this method, pure (98–99% m/m) and dry (128–553 ppm of water) protic ionic liquids were synthesized (in a laboratory scale) without the need for purification methods that require heating the ionic liquid, hence avoiding the common issue of thermal decomposition. This method was also designed to allow for the accurate measurement of acid and base, and for the controlled mixing of both compounds, which is essential to avoid producing impure protic ionic liquids with excess of either acid or base. The system is constructed of only glass and chemically resistant polymer (PTFE and PVDF) parts, which avoid other contaminants that can result from unwanted reactions involving the reagents with common laboratory tools (metallic objects, paper, plastic, etc.). This process is described in detail in the paper as well as in a video. The resulting ionic liquids were carefully analyzed by spectroscopic and thermal methods designed to avoid water absorption, which is known to affect their properties. To complement this experimental characterization, computational chemistry tools were used to assess the ionic liquids’ properties, as well as to assign vibrational modes.
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6. |
- Zhang, Ru Bo, et al.
(author)
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Theoretical studies of damage to 3'-uridine monophosphate induced by electron attachment
- 2008
-
In: Chemistry - A European Journal. - Weinheim : Wiley-VCH-Verl.. - 0947-6539 .- 1521-3765. ; 14:9, s. 2850-2856
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Low-energy electrons (LEE) are well known to induce nucleic acid damage. However, the damage mechanisms related to charge state and structural features remain to be explored in detail. In the present work, we have investigated the N1-glycosidic and C3'-O(P) bond ruptures of 3'-UMP (UMP=uridine monophosphate) and the protonated form 3'-UMPH with -1 and zero charge, respectively, based on hybrid density functional theory (DFT) B3 LYP together with the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set. The glycosidic bond breakage reactions of the 3'UMP and 3'UMPH electron adducts are exothermic in both cases, with barrier heights of 19-20 kcal mol(-1) upon inclusion of bulk solvation. The effects of the charge state on the phosphate group are marginal, but the C2'-OH group destabilizes the transition structure of glycosidic bond rupture of 3'-UMPH in the gas phase by approximately 5.0 kcal mol(-1). This is in contrast with the C3'-O(P) bond ruptures induced by LEE in which the charge state on the phosphate influences the barrier heights and reaction energies considerably. The barrier towards C3'-O(P) bond dissociation in the 3'UMP electron adduct is higher in the gas phase than the one corresponding to glycosidic bond rupture and is dramatically influenced by the C2'-OH group and bulk salvation, which decreases the barrier to 14.7 kcal mol(-1). For the C3'-O(P) bond rupture of the 3'UMPH electron adduct, the reaction is exothermic and the barrier is even lower, 8.2 kcal mol(-1), which is in agreement with recent results for 3'-dTMPH and 5'-dTMPH (dTMPH=deoxythymidine monophosphate). Both the Mulliken atomic charges and unpaired-spin distribution play significant roles in the reactions
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7. |
- Laarz, Eric, et al.
(author)
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Colloidal processing of Al2O3-based composites reinforced with TiN and TiC particulates, whiskers and nanoparticles
- 2001
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In: Journal of the European Ceramic Society. - 0955-2219 .- 1873-619X. ; 21:8, s. 1027-1035
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A colloidal processing route has been developed for the preparation of dense and homogeneous Al2O3–TiN/TiC composites. The dispersion and rheological properties of mixtures of TiN or TiC particulates and Al2O3 particles were investigated using electrokinetics and steady-shear rheology. We found that well-dispersed aqueous suspensions with low viscosity could be prepared by adding a poly(acrylic acid) dispersant and controlling pH in the alkaline range. This processing scheme was also suitable for preparation of whisker and nanoparticle composite suspensions. The alumina-based composite suspensions with a secondary-phase concentration of 25 vol.% were freeze-granulated and hot-pressed, and the resulting bodies were fully densified with well-dispersed secondary phases. Homogeneous Al2O3–TiN nanoparticle composites could only be prepared with additions of up to 5 vol.% nanoparticles; higher additions resulted in agglomeration and subsequent grain growth of the nanoparticles.
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8. |
- Bushnell, Eric A. C., et al.
(author)
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The first branching point in porphyrin biosynthesis : a systematic docking, molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical study of substrate binding and mechanism of uroporphyrinogen-III decarboxylase
- 2011
-
In: Journal of Computational Chemistry. - New York : John Wiley & Sons. - 0192-8651 .- 1096-987X. ; 32:5, s. 822-834
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In humans, uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase is intimately involved in the synthesis of heme, where the decarboxylation of the uroporphyrinogen-III occurs in a single catalytic site. Several variants of the mechanistic proposal exist; however, the exact mechanism is still debated. Thus, using an ONIOM quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical approach, the mechanism by which uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase decarboxylates ring D of uroporphyrinogen-III has been investigated. From the study performed, it was found that both Arg37 and Arg50 are essential in the decarboxylation of ring D, where experimentally both have been shown to be critical to the catalytic behavior of the enzyme. Overall, the reaction was found to have a barrier of 10.3 kcal mol−1 at 298.15 K. The rate-limiting step was found to be the initial protontransfer from Arg37 to the substrate before the decarboxylation. In addition, it has been found that several key interactions exist between the substrate carboxylate groups and backbone amides of various activesite residues as well as several other functional groups.
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9. |
- Erdtman, Edvin, et al.
(author)
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Computational studies on Schiff-base formation : Implications for the catalytic mechanism of porphobilinogen synthase
- 2011
-
In: Computational and Theoretical Chemistry. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 2210-271X .- 2210-2728. ; 963:2-3, s. 479-489
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Schiff bases are common and important intermediates in many bioenzymatic systems. The mechanism by which they are formed, however,is dependent on the solvent, pH and other factors. In the present study we have used density functional theory methods in combination with appropriate chemical models to get a better understanding of the inherent chemistry of the formation of two Schiff bases that have been proposed to be involved in the catalytic mechanism of porphobilinogensynthase (PBGS), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of porphyrins. More specifically, we have investigated the uncatalysed reaction of its substrate 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) with a lysine residue for theformation of the P-site Schiff base, and as possibly catalysed by the second active site lysine, water or the 5-ALA itself. It is found that cooperatively both the second lysine and the amino group of the initial 5-ALA itself are capable of reducing the rate-limiting energy barrier to14.0 kcal mol-1. We therefore propose these to be likely routes involved in the P-site Schiff-base formation in PBGS.
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10. |
- Halldin Stenlid, Joakim, 1987-
(author)
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Computational Studies of Chemical Interactions: Molecules, Surfaces and Copper Corrosion
- 2017
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The chemical bond – a corner stone in science and a prerequisite for life – is the focus of this thesis. Fundamental and applied aspects of chemical bonding are covered including the development of new computational methods for the characterization and rationalization of chemical interactions. The thesis also covers the study of corrosion of copper-based materials. The latter is motivated by the proposed use of copper as encapsulating material for spent nuclear fuel in Sweden.In close collaboration with experimental groups, state-of-the-art computational methods were employed for the study of chemistry at the atomic scale. First, oxidation of nanoparticulate copper was examined in anoxic aqueous media in order to better understand the copper-water thermodynamics in relation to the corrosion of copper material under oxygen free conditions. With a similar ambition, the water-cuprite interface was investigated with regards to its chemical composition and reactivity. This was compared to the behavior of methanol and hydrogen sulfide at the cuprite surface.An overall ambition during the development of computational methods for the analysis of chemical bonding was to bridge the gap between molecular and materials chemistry. Theory and results are thus presented and applied in both a molecular and a solid-state framework. A new property, the local electron attachment energy, for the characterization of a compound’s local electrophilicity was introduced. Together with the surface electrostatic potential, the new property predicts and rationalizes regioselectivity and trends of molecular reactions, and interactions on metal and oxide nanoparticles and extended surfaces.Detailed atomistic understanding of chemical processes is a prerequisite for the efficient development of chemistry. We therefore envisage that the results of this thesis will find widespread use in areas such as heterogeneous catalysis, drug discovery, and nanotechnology.
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11. |
- Rahm, Martin, et al.
(author)
-
The Molecular Surface Structure of Ammonium and Potassium Dinitramide : A Vibrational Sum Frequency Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Study
- 2011
-
In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 115:21, s. 10588-10596
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy (VSFS) and quantum chemical modeling have been employed to investigate the molecular surface structure of ammonium and potassium dinitramide (ADN and KDN) crystals. Identification of key vibrational modes was made possible by performing density functional theory calculations of molecular clusters. The surface of KDN was found to be partly covered with a thin layer of the decomposition product KNO3, which due to its low thickness was not detectable by infrared and Raman spectroscopy. In contrast, ADN exhibited an extremely inhomogeneous surface, on which polarized dinitramide anions were present, possibly together with a thin layer of NH4NO3. The intertwined use of theoretical and experimental tools proved indispensable in the analysis of these complex surfaces. The experimental verification of polarized and destabilized dinitramide anions stresses the importance of designing surface-active polymer support, stabilizers, and/or coating agents, in order to enable environmentally friendly ADN-based solid-rocket propulsion.
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12. |
- Tejero, Ismael, et al.
(author)
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Theoretical modeling of hydroxyl-radical-induced lipid peroxidation reactions
- 2007
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In: Journal of Physical Chemistry B. - : American Chemical Society. - 1520-6106 .- 1520-5207. ; 111:20, s. 5684-5693
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The OH-radical-induced mechanism of lipid peroxidation, involving hydrogen abstraction followed by O2 addition, is explored using the kinetically corrected hybrid density functional MPWB1K in conjunction with the MG3S basis set and a polarized continuum model to mimic the membrane interior. Using a small nonadiene model of linoleic acid, it is found that hydrogen abstraction preferentially occurs at the mono-allylic methylene groups at the ends of the conjugated segment rather than at the central bis-allylic carbon, in disagreement with experimental data. Using a full linoleic acid, however, abstraction is correctly predicted to occur at the central carbon, giving a pentadienyl radical. The Gibbs free energy for abstraction at the central C11 is 8 kcal/mol, compared to 9 kcal/mol at the end points (giving an allyl radical). Subsequent oxygen addition will occur at one of the terminal atoms of the pentadienyl radical fragment, giving a localized peroxy radical and a conjugated butadiene fragment, but is associated with rather high free energy barriers and low exergonicity at the CPCM-MPWB1K/MG3S level. The ZPE-corrected potential energy surfaces obtained without solvent effects, on the other hand, display considerably lower barriers and more exergonic reactions.
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13. |
- Wojas, Natalia
(author)
-
The dynamic surface nature of calcite and its role in determining the adsorptive stability toward hydrophobizing carboxylic fatty acids
- 2021
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Calcium carbonate has attracted a lot of interest over the centuries. Nowadays, mainly as mineral pigment and filler, it has a wide use in technological applications ranging from paper, construction, polymers, and environmental solutions to consumer goods. Amongst these uses, the filler pigment is required to display either hydrophilicity (for applications in aqueous colloidal systems, including, for example, in paper and emulsion paints), or, in contrast, oleophilicity (for applications in contact with oil-based systems, such as plastics and volatile solvent-containing sealants). To achieve oleophilicity, and resulting hydrophobicity, the filler is surface treated, typically using carboxylic fatty acids. In this thesis, effects of humidity and fatty carboxylic acids vapor on CaCO3 surface wettability and nanomechanical properties were studied, with the aim to gain knowledge on layer packing density and order, as well as resistance to water exposure and mechanical wear. A better understanding of the dynamic nature of the calcite surface presented in this work allows the industry to increase sustainable control over materials production and storage. First, a setup combining an atomic force microscope (AFM) with a humidifier was used to map nanomechanical properties of growing surface domains (hydrated form of CaCO3) formed by ion dissolution, diffusion, and redeposition, a process that is not reversible upon drying. Secondly, AFM and contact angle goniometer measurements showed that the stability of the calcite surface improves with increasing carboxylic acid chain length (C2 to C18). Meanwhile, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy techniques demonstrated that a coherent layer with maximum packing density of carboxylate and carboxylic acid species was achieved with the use of stearic acid (C18) with high enough vapor pressure and exposure time. The AFM images successfully visualized that a complete C18 monolayer is capable of countering nano-wear of the calcite surface despite the humidity (under the range of loads investigated in this work) and the layer has self-healing properties, while calcite displayed high abrasive wear. Further, when calcite coated by a highly packed monolayer of C18 was covered with a water droplet, a large contact angle hysteresis resulted in a coffee ring effect (CRE). That is leading to formation of hillocks at the contact line consisting of dissolved fatty carboxylic acid and possibly calcium bicarbonate Ca(HCO3)2 molecules transported from the bare calcite region that also is created next to the droplet edge. Interestingly, C18 coated calcite remained considerably more stable in the case where a water droplet saturated with octanoic acid was used instead of water; thus, it was concluded that the CRE can be contained via reduction of the liquid surface tension and contact angle hysteresis.
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14. |
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15. |
- Maurina Morais, Eduardo, 1989
(author)
-
Synthesis of protic ionic liquids. Challenges and solutions for the synthesis of pure compounds.
- 2022
-
Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The urgent need to diversify our energy matrix is responsible for a renewed interest in fuel cell technology, which can use hydrogen gas, a renewable green fuel, as an energy source. This technology is currently a commercially available option, however, it still requires technological improvements before it can be widely used for different applications. One way this technology could potentially be improved is by increasing its temperature range of operation by developing new, anhydrous proton conducting materials. Protic ionic liquids, which are organic salts with low melting temperatures, are interesting candidates for this application, since they can conduct protons in the operational conditions of fuel cells and without the need of water. These compounds can be synthesized by a simple acid-base neutralization reaction, but certain considerations must be taken in order to obtain high quality (dry and pure) protic ionic liquids. In this thesis, a series of triazolium and imidazolium based protic ionic liquids were synthesized using a solvent-free method designed to address several limitations encountered with other commonly used methods. Using this method, pure (98-99% m/m) and dry (128-553 ppm of water) protic ionic liquids were synthesized (in a laboratory scale) without the need for purification methods that require heating the ionic liquid, hence avoiding the common issue of thermal decomposition. This method was also designed to allow for the accurate measurement of acid and base, and for the controlled mixing of both compounds, which is essential to avoid producing impure protic ionic liquids with excess of either acid or base. The system is consists of only glass and chemically resistant polymer(PTFE and PVDF) parts, which avoids other contaminants that can result from unwanted reactions involving the reagents with common laboratory tools (metallic objects, paper, plastic, etc.). The resulting ionic liquids were carefully analyzed by spectroscopic and thermal analysis methods designed to avoid water absorption, which is known to affect their properties. To complement this experimental characterization, computational chemistry tools were used to assess the ionic liquids’ properties, as well as to assign vibrational modes.
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16. |
- Sauer, Christopher, 1993
(author)
-
Green Aromatics: Catalytic Valorisation of bio-derived 2,5-dimethylfuran over Zeolites and Zeotypes
- 2022
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis discusses the use of biomass as a potentially green feedstock for the chemical industry in the urgent shift away from fossil resources. I elaborate on reasons why we cannot afford to burn virgin biomass for energy production, among them a variety of ecosystem services that forests and other lands provide. In addition, the utilisation of biomass should be focused on products that sequester and lock away carbon for more extended periods, e.g. timber, materials and chemicals. In particular, biomass can be used as an alternative "carbon neutral" feedstock for the chemical industry, where we can preserve the already existing chemical complexity in the bio-based molecules. One example is the upgrading of furans to benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) aromatics with the help of zeolite catalysis. These aromatics are important commodity chemicals, where the shift to a bio-based resource could make use of already existing knowledge, catalyst and production infrastructure. However, research is necessary to understand these new feedstock molecules and their interaction with the catalysts and to enable the design of applicable catalysts. In order to study the interaction of the furans, in particular 2,5-dimethylfuran (2,5-dmf), I describe and discuss the development of an analytical methodology that utilises infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry for the on-line identification and quantification of product molecules during catalytic reactions. This on-line analysis method is then applied to the catalytic conversion of 2,5-dmf to aromatics over a range of zeolite and zeotype catalysts. In-depth studies with ammonia as a probe molecule of the catalytic active acid sites, as well as temperature programmed experiments with ammonia and 2,5-dmf give insights into product distribution, selectivity changes and deactivation of the catalyst. For example, olefins and aromatics are initially preferred products, while with increasing time on stream, the isomerisation of 2,5-dmf becomes dominant. The incorporation of Ga into the zeotype framework, resulting in a Ga-Silicate, shows how targeted catalyst design can increase overall aromatics production. This catalyst is also suitable for selective isomerisation of 2,5-dmf to 2,4-dimethylfuran, which has a rare substitution pattern. Finally, itwas found that the most valuable of BTX, p -xylene, can be produced more selectively when 2,5-dmf is pre-adsorbed onto zeolite ZSM-5 and then released during a temperature programmed product desorption.
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17. |
- Erdtman, Edvin, et al.
(author)
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Modelling the behavior of 5-aminolevulinic acid and its alkyl esters in a lipid bilayer
- 2008
-
In: Chemical Physics Letters. - Amsterdam : North-Holland Publishing Co. - 0009-2614 .- 1873-4448. ; 463:1-3, s. 178-182
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 5-Aminolevulinic acid (5ALA) and ester derivates thereof are used as prodrugs in photodynamic therapy (PDT). The behavior of 5ALA and three esters of 5ALA in a DPPC lipid bilayer is investigated. In particular, the methyl ester displays a very different free energy profile, where the highest barrier is located in the region with highest lipid density, while the others have their peak in the middle of the membrane, and also displays a considerably lower permeability coefficient than neutral 5ALA and the ethyl ester. The zwitterion of 5ALA has the highest permeability constant, but a significant free energy minimum in the polar head-group region renders an accumulation in this region.
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18. |
- Damas, Giane Benvinda, et al.
(author)
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Carbon dioxide reduction mechanism on Ru-based electrocatalysts [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)(2)](2+) : insights from first-principles theory
- 2021
-
In: Sustainable Energy & Fuels. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2398-4902. ; 5:23, s. 6066-6076
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Solar fuel production through the so-called artificial photosynthesis has attracted a great deal of attention to the development of a new world energy matrix that is renewable and environmentally friendly. This process is characterized by light absorption with enough photon energy to generate conduction electrons, which drive the carbon dioxide reduction to produce organic fuels. It is also common to couple Ru-complex electrocatalysts to form a more efficient and selective hybrid system for this application. In this work, we have undertaken a thorough investigation of the redox reaction mechanism of Ru-based electrocatalysts by means of density functional theory (DFT) methods under the experimental conditions that have been previously reported. More specifically, we have studied the electrochemistry and catalytic activity of the [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)(2)](2+) coordination complex. Our theoretical assessment supports the following catalytic cycle: (i) [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)(2)](2+) is transformed into [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)](0) upon two-electron reduction and CO release; (ii) [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)](0) is protonated to form the [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)H](+) hydride complex; (iii) CO2 is activated by the hydride complex through an electrophilic addition to form the [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)(OCHO)](+) intermediate; (iv) the resulting formic acid ligand is released in solution; and, finally, (v) the CO ligand is reattached to the complex to recover the initial [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)(2)](2+) catalyst.
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19. |
- Napolitano, C., et al.
(author)
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Synthesis, kinase activity and molecular modeling of a resorcylic acid lactone incorporating an amide and a trans-enone in the macrocycle
- 2012
-
In: Tetrahedron. - : Elsevier BV. - 0040-4020 .- 1464-5416. ; 68:27-28, s. 5533-5540
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Details for the synthesis of a resorcylic acid lactone (RAL) incorporating a trans-enone and an amide in the macrocyclic ring are provided herein. The sequence included the assembly of three fragments by esterification, olefination, and lactamization. The RAL with the lactam was less potent as an inhibitor of kinases than other RALs investigated. The biological results were rationalized by docking and molecular dynamics simulations of the lactam bound to human ERK2 and comparison with hypothemycin. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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20. |
- Bannan, T. J., et al.
(author)
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A method for extracting calibrated volatility information from the FIGAERO-HR-ToF-CIMS and its experimental application
- 2019
-
In: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1867-1381 .- 1867-8548. ; 12:3, s. 1429-1439
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Filter Inlet for Gases and AEROsols (FIGAERO) is an inlet specifically designed to be coupled with the Aerodyne High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (HR-ToF-CIMS). The FIGAERO-HR-ToF-CIMS provides simultaneous molecular information relating to both the gas- and particle-phase samples and has been used to extract vapour pressures (VPs) of the compounds desorbing from the filter whilst giving quantitative concentrations in the particle phase. However, such extraction of vapour pressures of the measured particle-phase components requires use of appropriate, well-defined, reference compounds. Vapour pressures for the homologous series of polyethylene glycols (PEG) ((H-(O-CH 2 CH 2 ) n -OH) for n = 3 to n = 8), covering a range of vapour pressures (VP) (10 -1 to 10 -7 Pa) that are atmospherically relevant, have been shown to be reproduced well by a range of different techniques, including Knudsen Effusion Mass Spectrometry (KEMS). This is the first homologous series of compounds for which a number of vapour pressure measurement techniques have been found to be in agreement, indicating the utility as a calibration standard, providing an ideal set of benchmark compounds for accurate characterization of the FIGAERO for extracting vapour pressure of measured compounds in chambers and the real atmosphere. To demonstrate this, single-component and mixture vapour pressure measurements are made using two FIGAERO-HR-ToF-CIMS instruments based on a new calibration determined from the PEG series. VP values extracted from both instruments agree well with those measured by KEMS and reported values from literature, validating this approach for extracting VP data from the FIGAERO. This method is then applied to chamber measurements, and the vapour pressures of known products are estimated. © 2019 Author(s).
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21. |
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22. |
- Guo, Y. D., et al.
(author)
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Identification of highly oxygenated organic molecules and their role in aerosol formation in the reaction of limonene with nitrate radical
- 2022
-
In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 22:17, s. 11323-11346
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nighttime NO3-initiated oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) such as monoterpenes is important for the atmospheric formation and growth of secondary organic aerosol (SOA), which has significant impact on climate, air quality, and human health. In such SOA formation and growth, highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOM) may be crucial, but their formation pathways and role in aerosol formation have yet to be clarified. Among monoterpenes, limonene is of particular interest for its high emission globally and high SOA yield. In this work, HOM formation in the reaction of limonene with nitrate radical (NO3) was investigated in the SAPHIR chamber (Simulation of Atmospheric PHotochemistry In a large Reaction chamber). About 280 HOM products were identified, grouped into 19 monomer families, 11 dimer families, and 3 trimer families. Both closed-shell products and open-shell peroxy radicals (RO2 center dot) 2 were observed, and many of them have not been reported previously. Monomers and dimers accounted for 47% and 47% of HOM concentrations, respectively, with trimers making up the remaining 6 %. In the most abundant monomer families, C10H15-17NO6-14, carbonyl products outnumbered hydroxyl products, indicating the importance of RO2 center dot termination by unimolecular dissociation. Both RO2 center dot autoxidation and alkoxy-peroxy pathways were found to be important processes leading to HOM. Time-dependent concentration profiles of monomer products containing nitrogen showed mainly second-generation formation patterns. Dimers were likely formed via the accretion reaction of two monomer RO2 center dot , and HOM-trimers via the accretion reaction between monomer RO2 center dot and dimer RO2 center dot. Trimers are suggested to play an important role in new particle formation (NPF) observed in our experiment. A HOM yield of 1.5%(+1.7%)(-0.7%) was estimated considering only first-generation products. SOA mass growth could be reasonably explained by HOM condensation on particles assuming irreversible uptake of ultra-low volatility organic compounds (ULVOCs), extremely low volatility organic compounds (ELVOCs), and low volatility organic compounds (LVOCs). This work provides evidence for the important role of HOM formed via the limonene +NO3 reaction in NPF and growth of SOA particles.
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23. |
- Guo, Y., et al.
(author)
-
Reversible Structural Isomerization of Nature's Water Oxidation Catalyst Prior to O-O Bond Formation
- 2022
-
In: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0002-7863 .- 1520-5126. ; 144:26, s. 11736-11747
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Photosynthetic water oxidation is catalyzed by a manganese-calcium oxide cluster, which experiences five "S-states" during a light-driven reaction cycle. The unique "distorted chair"-like geometry of the Mn4CaO5(6)cluster shows structural flexibility that has been frequently proposed to involve "open" and "closed"-cubane forms from the S1 to S3states. The isomers are interconvertible in the S1 and S2states, while in the S3state, the open-cubane structure is observed to dominate inThermosynechococcus elongatus (cyanobacteria) samples. In this work, using density functional theory calculations, we go beyond the S3+Yzstate to the S3nYz•→ S4+Yzstep, and report for the first time that the reversible isomerism, which is suppressed in the S3+Yzstate, is fully recovered in the ensuing S3nYz•state due to the proton release from a manganese-bound water ligand. The altered coordination strength of the manganese-ligand facilitates formation of the closed-cubane form, in a dynamic equilibrium with the open-cubane form. This tautomerism immediately preceding dioxygen formation may constitute the rate limiting step for O2formation, and exert a significant influence on the water oxidation mechanism in photosystem II.
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24. |
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25. |
- Le Breton, Michael, 1986, et al.
(author)
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Application of a FIGAERO ToF CIMS for on-line characterization of real-world fresh and aged particle emissions from buses
- 2019
-
In: Aerosol Science and Technology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0278-6826 .- 1521-7388. ; 53:3, s. 244-259
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2019, © 2019 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. On-line chemical characterization of real-world particle emissions from 13 transit buses was performed using a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) equipped with a filter inlet for gases and aerosols (FIGAERO). In addition to the fresh emissions the emissions were artificially aged using a potential aerosol mass reactor (Go:PAM). The buses studied were running on different fuel types (diesel, compressed natural gas, and rapeseed methyl ester) and exhaust after-treatment systems (selective catalytic reduction (SCR), exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and a three-way catalyst). When evaluating emissions from passing exhaust plumes using the FIGAERO ToF-CIMS, two technical features were highlighted from this work, the use of high mass calibrants and the factor enhancement method to be able to filter important compounds from mass spectra including hundreds of species. Here, acetate was used as the reagent ion to enable detection of highly oxygenated species in the exhaust particle emissions with potential high toxicity and/or secondary organic aerosol formation (SOA) potential. The acetate ionization scheme accounted for 4% to 46% of the total emitted particulate mass through identification of 61 species in the spectra. For aged emission the various fuel types provided overlapping species that could explain up to 19% of the aged emissions. This is hypothesized to come from the oxidation of engine lubrication oil, thus a common source for various fuels which was further supported by laboratory measurements. Specific markers from the SCR technology, such as urea oxidation products and further byproducts from hydrolysis were identified and attributed to reactions of isocyanic acid.
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