Atmospheric Chemistry of Carbonyl Compounds

Carbonyl compounds, which include aldehydes and ketones, are ubiquitous trace gases that play a pivotal role in atmospheric chemistry. They originate from primary emissions—both anthropogenic, such as vehicle exhaust, solvent use and industrial processes, and biogenic, such as plant isoprene and terpene oxidation—and from secondary formation via photochemical oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Once released or formed, carbonyls undergo complex transformation pathways under the influence of sunlight, radicals and other atmospheric oxidants. Photolysis and reaction with hydroxyl radicals (OH) lead to the production of smaller oxygenated species, radicals and, ultimately, ozone and secondary organic aerosol. The abundance and reactivity of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone, among others, govern radical budgets and influence ozone formation rates in both urban and rural environments. Understanding the balance of sources, sinks and chemical interconversions of carbonyl compounds is essential for accurate air-quality modelling, for devising emission control strategies and for predicting future changes in oxidising capacity and climate forcing.

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Atmospheric Chemistry of Carbonyl Compounds publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in atmospheric chemistry of carbonyl compounds across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Carbonyl compound: An organic molecule containing a carbon–oxygen double bond, such as an aldehyde or ketone.

Oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs): A subset of VOCs that contain oxygen functional groups and participate in secondary atmospheric chemistry.

Photochemical oxidation: A process in which sunlight drives the conversion of VOCs into more oxidised products via radical reactions.

Hydroxyl radical (OH): A highly reactive atmospheric oxidant that initiates the degradation of VOCs and carbonyls.

Biogenic emissions: Natural emissions of chemical species, such as isoprene and terpenes, from vegetation and soils.

Anthropogenic emissions: Human-induced emissions of pollutants from transport, industry, solvent use and other activities.

References

1. Significant Biogenic Source of Oxygenated Volatile Organic Compounds and the Impacts on Photochemistry at a Regional Background Site in South China. Environmental Science and Technology (2024).
2. Measurement report: Production and loss of atmospheric formaldehyde at a suburban site of Shanghai in summertime. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2023).