Direct aqueous photochemistry of methylglyoxal and its effect on sulfate formation

In recent years, among many oxidation pathways studied for atmospheric sulfate formation, the aqueous phase oxidation pathways of H2O2 and organic hydroperoxides (ROOHs) have attracted great scientific attention. Higher concentrations of H2O2 and ubiquitous ROOHs have been observed in atmospheric aqueous phase environments (cloud water, fog droplets, etc.). However, there are still some gaps in the study of their aqueous phase generation and their influences on sulfate formation. In this study, the aqueous phase photochemical reaction of methylglyoxal, a ubiquitous organic substance in the atmospheric aqueous phase, was studied under UV irradiation, and the generation of H2O2 and ROOHs in this system was investigated. It is found for the first time that the aqueous phase photolysis of methylglyoxal not only produces H2O2 but also produces ROOHs, and UV light and O2 are necessary for the formation of H2O2 and ROOHs. Based on the experimental results, the possible mechanism of aqueous phase photochemistry of methylglyoxal and the generation of H2O2 and ROOHs were proposed. The effect of aqueous phase photolysis of methylglyoxal on sulfate formation under different conditions was also investigated. The results show that the aqueous phase photolysis of methylglyoxal significantly promoted SO2 oxidation and sulfate formation, in which SO2 oxidation was realized by the generated H2O2, ROOHs and •OH radicals, and the importance of the formed ROOHs cannot be ignored. These results fill some gaps in the field of aqueous phase H2O2 and ROOHs production, and to a certain extent confirm the important roles of the aqueous phase photolysis of methylglyoxal and the formed H2O2 and ROOHs in the production of sulfate. The study reveals the new sources of H2O2 and ROOHs, and provides a new insight into the heterogeneous aqueous phase oxidation pathways and mechanisms of SO2 in cloud and fog droplets and haze particles.