Unexpected molecular diversity of brown carbon formed by Maillard-like reactions in aqueous aerosols
Shanshan Tang, Feifei Li, Jitao Lv, Lei Liu, Guangming Wu, Yarui Wang, Yarui Wang, Wanchao Yu, Yawei Wang, Yawei Wang, Guibin Jiang
Abstract
, glycine, ethylamine, propylamine, and ammonium), carbonyl precursors play a more important role in determining the molecular diversity of BrC. Different from black carbon, the light-absorbing products from Maillard-like reactions are mainly nitrogen-containing heterocycles. Unexpectedly, 35-64% of molecular formulae detected in real atmospheric samples were found in simulated Maillard reaction products, implying a potentially important contribution of Maillard chemistry to the atmospheric organic molecular pool. These results will improve our understanding of the formation and molecular diversity of BrC, and further help to manage emissions of secondary aerosol precursors.