Abstract

PACHECO, Milexi  and  SANHUEZA, Eugenio. Compuestos orgánicos volátiles en la atmósfera de la gran sabana. III: distribución de tamaño de los aerosoles de Formiato, Acetato, Piruvato y Oxalato . INCI [online]. 2004, vol.29, n.10, pp.583-590. ISSN 0378-1844.

The study was performed in La Gran Sabana, Canaima National Park, basically at the Parupa Scientific Station. Particles were collected using low and high volume collectors, the latter equipped with cascade impactors. Water soluble compounds were extracted by ultrasound and analyzed by ion chromatography. Results indicate that the anions formiate, acetate, piruvate y oxalate are important components of La Gran Sabana atmospheric aerosols, with concentrations in Parupa of 24 ±15ppt, 44 ±54ppt, 4 ±2ppt y 31 ±15ppt, respectively. These levels are similar to the ones observed at other rural sites of the world. According to their average particle diameter, formiate (1.8µm) and acetate (2.2µm) are amongst the coarse particles (>1.5µm), whereas piruvate (0.92µm) and oxalate (1.0µm) ions are amongst the fine particles (<1,5µm). In general, the corresponding organic acids are likely produced by photooxidation of natural volatile organic compounds in gas phase, and then they would be incorporated and/or pass to the particulate phase. A minor proportion of the gaseous acids and/or aerosol anions could come from primary biogenic emissions (e.g., vegetation, soils). The possible role of these compounds, especially oxalate, as cloud condensation nuclei, indicates the importance to continue the characterization of these organic aerosols at the tropical continental remote atmosphere.

Keywords : Aniones Orgánicos Particulados; Atmósfera Tropical; Compuestos Orgánicos Volátiles; Núcleos de Condensación de Nubes.