Changing aerosol chemistry is redefining HONO sources

Abstract Heterogeneous reactions of NO2 on particulate matter have been considered an important source of HONO (Nitrous acid) in the troposphere, whereas its contribution is controversial due to the lack of uptake coefficient of NO2 (γNO2) on the surfaces of ambient particulate matter (PM). Here we...

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Main Authors: Yusheng Zhang, Yongchun Liu, Wei Ma, Chenjie Hua, Feixue Zheng, Chaofan Lian, Weigang Wang, Men Xia, Zhixin Zhao, Jinwen Li, Jiali Xie, Zongcheng Wang, Yuzheng Wang, Xin Chen, Ying Zhang, Zemin Feng, Chao Yan, Biwu Chu, Wei Du, Veli-Matti Kerminen, Federico Bianchi, Tuukka Petäjä, Douglas Worsnop, Markku Kulmala
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60614-7
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author Yusheng Zhang
Yongchun Liu
Wei Ma
Chenjie Hua
Feixue Zheng
Chaofan Lian
Weigang Wang
Men Xia
Zhixin Zhao
Jinwen Li
Jiali Xie
Zongcheng Wang
Yuzheng Wang
Xin Chen
Ying Zhang
Zemin Feng
Chao Yan
Biwu Chu
Wei Du
Veli-Matti Kerminen
Federico Bianchi
Tuukka Petäjä
Douglas Worsnop
Markku Kulmala
author_facet Yusheng Zhang
Yongchun Liu
Wei Ma
Chenjie Hua
Feixue Zheng
Chaofan Lian
Weigang Wang
Men Xia
Zhixin Zhao
Jinwen Li
Jiali Xie
Zongcheng Wang
Yuzheng Wang
Xin Chen
Ying Zhang
Zemin Feng
Chao Yan
Biwu Chu
Wei Du
Veli-Matti Kerminen
Federico Bianchi
Tuukka Petäjä
Douglas Worsnop
Markku Kulmala
author_sort Yusheng Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Heterogeneous reactions of NO2 on particulate matter have been considered an important source of HONO (Nitrous acid) in the troposphere, whereas its contribution is controversial due to the lack of uptake coefficient of NO2 (γNO2) on the surfaces of ambient particulate matter (PM). Here we investigate the the γNO2 to form HONO and its evolution based on long-term comprehensive field observations (2019–2023) in Beijing and a random forest model with Shapley additive explanations. The γNO2 on ambient PM is on the order of 10−6, decreasing markedly from 3.07 ± 5.99 × 10−6 in 2019 to 1.43 ± 3.22 × 10−6 in 2023. This decrease is driven by the increase in aerosol pH, linked to increased ratio of NH4NO3 to (NH4)2SO4, resulting from an unbalanced desulfurization and denitrification. This study implies that the role of the heterogeneous reaction of NO2 on aerosol surfaces in HONO production is declining in Beijing, providing valuable insights into the atmospheric chemistry in urban environments.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2041-1723
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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spelling doaj-art-7e90197b1a7946df97c423ab2545cbce2025-08-20T02:05:38ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-06-011611910.1038/s41467-025-60614-7Changing aerosol chemistry is redefining HONO sourcesYusheng Zhang0Yongchun Liu1Wei Ma2Chenjie Hua3Feixue Zheng4Chaofan Lian5Weigang Wang6Men Xia7Zhixin Zhao8Jinwen Li9Jiali Xie10Zongcheng Wang11Yuzheng Wang12Xin Chen13Ying Zhang14Zemin Feng15Chao Yan16Biwu Chu17Wei Du18Veli-Matti Kerminen19Federico Bianchi20Tuukka Petäjä21Douglas Worsnop22Markku Kulmala23Aerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyState Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of HelsinkiAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyJoint International Research Laboratory of Atmospheric and Earth System Science, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing UniversityCollege of Chemical Engineering, North China University of Science and TechnologyInstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of HelsinkiInstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of HelsinkiInstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of HelsinkiAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyInstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of HelsinkiAerosol and Haze Laboratory, Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyAbstract Heterogeneous reactions of NO2 on particulate matter have been considered an important source of HONO (Nitrous acid) in the troposphere, whereas its contribution is controversial due to the lack of uptake coefficient of NO2 (γNO2) on the surfaces of ambient particulate matter (PM). Here we investigate the the γNO2 to form HONO and its evolution based on long-term comprehensive field observations (2019–2023) in Beijing and a random forest model with Shapley additive explanations. The γNO2 on ambient PM is on the order of 10−6, decreasing markedly from 3.07 ± 5.99 × 10−6 in 2019 to 1.43 ± 3.22 × 10−6 in 2023. This decrease is driven by the increase in aerosol pH, linked to increased ratio of NH4NO3 to (NH4)2SO4, resulting from an unbalanced desulfurization and denitrification. This study implies that the role of the heterogeneous reaction of NO2 on aerosol surfaces in HONO production is declining in Beijing, providing valuable insights into the atmospheric chemistry in urban environments.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60614-7
spellingShingle Yusheng Zhang
Yongchun Liu
Wei Ma
Chenjie Hua
Feixue Zheng
Chaofan Lian
Weigang Wang
Men Xia
Zhixin Zhao
Jinwen Li
Jiali Xie
Zongcheng Wang
Yuzheng Wang
Xin Chen
Ying Zhang
Zemin Feng
Chao Yan
Biwu Chu
Wei Du
Veli-Matti Kerminen
Federico Bianchi
Tuukka Petäjä
Douglas Worsnop
Markku Kulmala
Changing aerosol chemistry is redefining HONO sources
Nature Communications
title Changing aerosol chemistry is redefining HONO sources
title_full Changing aerosol chemistry is redefining HONO sources
title_fullStr Changing aerosol chemistry is redefining HONO sources
title_full_unstemmed Changing aerosol chemistry is redefining HONO sources
title_short Changing aerosol chemistry is redefining HONO sources
title_sort changing aerosol chemistry is redefining hono sources
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60614-7
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