N sub(2)O sub(5) Hydrolysis on the Components of Mineral Dust and Sea Salt Aerosol: Comparison Study in an Environmental Aerosol Reaction Chamber

The kinetics of the heterogeneous hydrolysis of N sub(2)O sub(5) on some of the major components of mineral dust and sea salt aerosol was investigated. Gas-phase N sub(2)O sub(5) underwent heterogeneous reaction to form HNO sub(3) on carbonate, clay and oxide minerals. The nitric acid hydrolysis product was promptly detected in the gas phase concomitant with the decay of N sub(2)O sub(5) over time. When normalized for surface area, heterogeneous decay of N sub(2)O sub(5) on the different minerals followed the reactivity trend; kaolinite > hematite > montmorillonite > calcite > quartz. N sub(2)O sub(5) decay was faster on all of the mineral dust aerosol components relative to NaCl, a major component of sea salt, at a relative humidity (RH) below the NaCl deliquescence point.