This study investigates the aqueous secondary organic aerosol (aqSOA) formation from residential wood burning emissions under atmospheric conditions using a wetted-wall flow reactor (WFR). The researchers found that while only 1% of organic compounds are fully water-soluble, 19% exhibit moderate solubility and can partition into the aqueous phase in a thick cloud. A substantial fraction of the aqSOA is attributed to the formation of oligomers in the aqueous phase. The study determined an aqSOA yield of 20% from residential wood combustion, exceeding current estimates based on gas-phase oxidation. In-cloud chemistry of organic gases emitted from wood burning is shown to be an efficient pathway for producing organic aerosols, potentially influencing climate and air quality.

Tiantian Wang, Kun Li, David M. Bell, Jun Zhang, Tianqu Cui, Mihnea Surdu, Urs Baltensperger, Jay G. Slowik, Houssni Lamkaddam, Imad El Haddad, Andre S. H. Prevot