New insights into isoprene degradation: Leipzig study clarifies atmospheric processes
Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig have discovered new reaction pathways in the atmospheric degradation of isoprene that could be significant for the formation of organic aerosols worldwide. The findings, published in Nature Communications, provide a deeper understanding of atmospheric chemistry. Isoprene, a compound emitted by deciduous forests, is one of the most important non-methane compounds, accounting for 600 million tons of carbon annually. It is degraded in the gas phase almost exclusively by hydroxyl radicals, forming peroxy radicals. These processes, especially in the tropics, are crucial, but the reaction pathways have not been fully understood until now. In experiments under atmospheric conditions, the TROPOS team used highly sensitive mass spectrometry to detect peroxy radicals and stable products. The investigations confirmed existing knowledge but identified new C4 and C5 products and highly oxidized peroxy radicals (C5H9O8 and C5H9O9) for the first time, which form via autoxidation within seconds. Despite a low molar yield of 0.3%, the enormous amount of isoprene could lead these radicals...
