Award Abstract # 2221933
RUI: Chemical phenomena of complex carbonyl-ammonium aqueous aerosol mimics

NSF Org: AGS
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
Recipient: LAFAYETTE COLLEGE
Initial Amendment Date: August 7, 2022
Latest Amendment Date: July 12, 2023
Award Number: 2221933
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Sylvia Edgerton
sedgerto@nsf.gov
 (703)292-8522
AGS
 Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
GEO
 Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date: August 1, 2022
End Date: July 31, 2025 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $327,192.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $327,192.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2022 = $327,192.00
History of Investigator:
  • Melissa Galloway (Principal Investigator)
    gallowam@lafayette.edu
  • Melissa Galloway (Former Principal Investigator)
  • Joseph Woo (Former Principal Investigator)
  • Melissa Galloway (Former Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Lafayette College
730 SULLIVAN RD
EASTON
PA  US  18042-1760
(610)330-5029
Sponsor Congressional District: 07
Primary Place of Performance: Lafayette College
High Street
Easton
PA  US  18042-1768
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
07
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): Q4FMY6KZXBP1
Parent UEI: Q4FMY6KZXBP1
NSF Program(s): Atmospheric Chemistry
Primary Program Source: 01002223DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 102Z
Program Element Code(s): 152400
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.050

ABSTRACT

This Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) project is focused on improving the understanding of condensed-phase reactions that lead to the formation of brown carbon in the atmosphere. The proposed research effort will explore the mechanistic and kinetic changes that occur through the aqueous reactions of carbonyls and ammonium sulfate. This work includes a systematic study of light absorption as a function of composition and could lead to improved predictions of brown carbon formation in atmospheric particles.

This effort involves research on the cross-reactions of ammonium sulfate with paired ?-difunctional carbonyls (glycolaldehyde, glyoxal, and methylglyoxal) to determine the effects of carbonyl ratio and identity on product formation, brown carbon light absorption, and reaction rates. The proposed work aims to answer the following key scientific questions: (1) How do cross-reactions of carbonyl compounds with ammonium change product composition? (2) How do light absorption properties of the product mixtures change as a function of cross-reaction between carbonyls? (3) How do product formation and chromophoricity change as additional complexity is added to mixture? Supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry and UV-visible spectroscopy will be utilized for this study.

Undergraduate research students will perform the laboratory experiments and will be involved in all aspects of the data workup and the presentation of the data.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.

Print this page

Back to Top of page