Molecular Insights into the Impact of Anthropogenic Precursors on SOA Formation in Remote Pristine Environments

, phthalic acid was the most prevalent, followed by succinic acid, but azelaic acid dominated in the samples of marine air masses. When anthropogenic precursors from continental sources arrived at the pristine location, the concentration of the stable end product, oxalic acid increased to two fold. Furthermore, the presence of precursor compounds from mixed sources impacted the formation of anthropogenic SOA, which included phthalic and terephthalic acids. Based on our experimental analysis, we proposed a new formation mechanism for terephthalic acid in a pristine environment. This work investigated and outlined the possible oxidative reaction mechanisms for the formation of dicarboxylic acids at the molecular level at a tropical rain forest location.