Surface tension depression by low-solubility organic material in aqueous aerosol mimics

Surface-active material, including long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), comprises a significant fraction of organic aerosol mass. Surface-active species are thought to form a film at the gas–aerosol interface, with implications for aerosol heterogeneous chemistry and cloud formation. However, LCFA phase behavior and surface-bulk partitioning has not been characterized under most conditions typical of tropospheric aerosol water (i.e. acidic, high ionic content), making it challenging to predict surface film formation in aerosols. In this study, we present measurements of the surface tension of aqueous solutions containing the slightly soluble LCFAs oleic and stearic acid. The effect of varying pH, organic concentration, and inorganic salt content was tested for each system. We observe surface tension depression compared to water of up to ∼30 and 45% for aqueous solutions containing stearic or oleic acid at pH 0–8 and high inorganic salt concentrations (NaCl and (NH4)2SO4). This suggests that surface film formation is favorable for these species in atmospheric aerosols.

► Surface tension was measured for fatty acids in aqueous solutions with varying pH and salt content.
► Oleic and stearic acid depress surface tension at conditions typical of atmospheric aerosols.
► This suggests surface film formation is favorable for atmospheric aerosols.