Oxidation of moringa-extracted protein at the mineral-water interface by aqueous ozone and hydroxyl radicals

Abstract
Protein aerosol exist in the atmosphere and may accumulate on the surface of mineral aerosol, altering their impact on the planet. To investigate this effect, moringa protein will be deposited onto silica blocks and oxidised at the water-mineral interface using aqueous phase ozone and OH radicals. The oxidation of proteinaceous material at the mineral-water is novel in the field of atmospheric sciences yet the kinetics of oxidation of protein coatings are vital in determining the atmospheric lifetime of proteins during cloud-processing on atmospheric mineral aerosol. Film thickness measurements throughout the oxidation of the protein film will allow us to determine the changes of the optical properties of a mixed phase water-mineral aerosol in the atmosphere owing to the presence of a protein coating with changing thickness at the mineral-water interface, which in turn can be used to determine the atmospheric importance.