Articles | Volume 26, issue 13
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-10029-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-10029-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
16 Jul 2026
Research article |
| 16 Jul 2026
| 16 Jul 2026
High yields of formic acid and acetic acid during multi-generational oxidation of toluene
Hengqing Shen
Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
State Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Min Zhao
Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
Yu Yang
Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
Huan Li
China Center for Information Industry Development, Beijing 100871, China
Huihui Wu
State Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Zhongming Chen
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
State Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Declan L. Finney, Alan M. Blyth, Martin Gallagher, Huihui Wu, Graeme J. Nott, Michael I. Biggerstaff, Richard G. Sonnenfeld, Martin Daily, Dan Walker, David Dufton, Keith Bower, Steven Böing, Thomas Choularton, Jonathan Crosier, James Groves, Paul R. Field, Hugh Coe, Benjamin J. Murray, Gary Lloyd, Nicholas A. Marsden, Michael Flynn, Kezhen Hu, Navaneeth M. Thamban, Paul I. Williams, Paul J. Connolly, James B. McQuaid, Joseph Robinson, Zhiqiang Cui, Ralph R. Burton, Gordon Carrie, Robert Moore, Steven J. Abel, Dave Tiddeman, and Graydon Aulich
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Yue Sun, Yujiao Zhu, Yanbin Qi, Lanxiadi Chen, Jiangshan Mu, Ye Shan, Yu Yang, Yanqiu Nie, Ping Liu, Can Cui, Ji Zhang, Mingxuan Liu, Lingli Zhang, Yufei Wang, Xinfeng Wang, Mingjin Tang, Wenxing Wang, and Likun Xue
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Xuelian Zhong, Hengqing Shen, Min Zhao, Ji Zhang, Yue Sun, Yuhong Liu, Yingnan Zhang, Ye Shan, Hongyong Li, Jiangshan Mu, Yu Yang, Yanqiu Nie, Jinghao Tang, Can Dong, Xinfeng Wang, Yujiao Zhu, Mingzhi Guo, Wenxing Wang, and Likun Xue
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Calvin Howes, Pablo E. Saide, Hugh Coe, Amie Dobracki, Steffen Freitag, Jim M. Haywood, Steven G. Howell, Siddhant Gupta, Janek Uin, Mary Kacarab, Chongai Kuang, L. Ruby Leung, Athanasios Nenes, Greg M. McFarquhar, James Podolske, Jens Redemann, Arthur J. Sedlacek, Kenneth L. Thornhill, Jenny P. S. Wong, Robert Wood, Huihui Wu, Yang Zhang, Jianhao Zhang, and Paquita Zuidema
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Ting Yang, Yu Xu, Qing Ye, Yi-Jia Ma, Yu-Chen Wang, Jian-Zhen Yu, Yu-Sen Duan, Chen-Xi Li, Hong-Wei Xiao, Zi-Yue Li, Yue Zhao, and Hua-Yun Xiao
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Youwei Hong, Keran Zhang, Dan Liao, Gaojie Chen, Min Zhao, Yiling Lin, Xiaoting Ji, Ke Xu, Yu Wu, Ruilian Yu, Gongren Hu, Sung-Deuk Choi, Likun Xue, and Jinsheng Chen
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Paul A. Barrett, Steven J. Abel, Hugh Coe, Ian Crawford, Amie Dobracki, James Haywood, Steve Howell, Anthony Jones, Justin Langridge, Greg M. McFarquhar, Graeme J. Nott, Hannah Price, Jens Redemann, Yohei Shinozuka, Kate Szpek, Jonathan W. Taylor, Robert Wood, Huihui Wu, Paquita Zuidema, Stéphane Bauguitte, Ryan Bennett, Keith Bower, Hong Chen, Sabrina Cochrane, Michael Cotterell, Nicholas Davies, David Delene, Connor Flynn, Andrew Freedman, Steffen Freitag, Siddhant Gupta, David Noone, Timothy B. Onasch, James Podolske, Michael R. Poellot, Sebastian Schmidt, Stephen Springston, Arthur J. Sedlacek III, Jamie Trembath, Alan Vance, Maria A. Zawadowicz, and Jianhao Zhang
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 6329–6371, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6329-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6329-2022, 2022
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Jiayun Xu, Zhongming Chen, Xuan Qin, and Ping Dong
Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-444, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-444, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted
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We investigated the photooxidation of isoprene in the presence of water. We found that water enhanced the formation of methacrolein and methyl vinyl ketone in the first-generation reactions by changing the structures of the reaction intermediates and raised formic acid and acetic acid yields considerably in the multi-generation reactions. The results of this study help understand the fate of isoprene in the atmosphere and improve the effect of the atmospheric simulations.
Jingcheng Hu, Zhongming Chen, Xuan Qin, and Ping Dong
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 6971–6987, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6971-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-6971-2022, 2022
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The gas–particle partitioning process of glyoxal and methylglyoxal could contribute to secondary organic aerosol formation. Here, we launched five observations in different seasons and simultaneously measured glyoxal and methylglyoxal in the gas and particle phases. Compared to reversible pathways, irreversible pathways played a dominant role with a proportion of more than 90 % in the ambient atmosphere, and the proportion was influenced by relative humidity and inorganic components in aerosols.
Chenjie Yu, Dantong Liu, Kang Hu, Ping Tian, Yangzhou Wu, Delong Zhao, Huihui Wu, Dawei Hu, Wenbo Guo, Qiang Li, Mengyu Huang, Deping Ding, and James D. Allan
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Han Zang, Yue Zhao, Juntao Huo, Qianbiao Zhao, Qingyan Fu, Yusen Duan, Jingyuan Shao, Cheng Huang, Jingyu An, Likun Xue, Ziyue Li, Chenxi Li, and Huayun Xiao
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 4355–4374, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4355-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-4355-2022, 2022
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Cited articles
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Short summary
This study shows that the air pollutant toluene produces much more formic acid and acetic acid during atmospheric aging than previously thought. Laboratory experiments show these acids mainly form through multiple oxidation steps and are poorly represented in current models. This missing chemistry helps explain why models underestimate organic acids and highlights their role in air quality and climate.
This study shows that the air pollutant toluene produces much more formic acid and acetic acid...
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