Oxidation of SO2 in thin water films containing NH3

The reaction between NH₃ and SO₂ in thin water films was studied with a focus on the formation of sulfate. The reactions were conducted at 5 and 60% relative humidities or partial pressure of water vapor and at 0.04, 0.16 or 0.20 atm O₂ for temperatures between 20 and 50°C using a flow reactor and static flask reactors. In the presence of water vapor, the oxidation of SO₂ to sulfate was observed only when NH₃ was present. The product was primarily (NH₄)₂SO₄. Conversion of as much as 81% of the SO₂ to sulfate was observed after 10 min of reaction when the initial concentrations of SO₂ and NH₃ were 1 ppm and the relative humidity was 60%. Conversion was only 1–3% when NH₃ and/or water vapor were absent from the system. The surface of the reactor was found to influence the reaction by providing a place for a film of liquid water to form, and for the first several hours of reaction in the film, th e rate of sulfate formation was observed to be faster than oxidation in liquid water. In general, these results suggest that thin water films on environmental surfaces play a greater role in the deposition of atmospheric gases and the accumulation of their reaction products on surfaces than previously considered.