ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Structural Characterization of Fatty Acid Films on Rain Water: a Scaling Approach Using Physical Attributes
A. Z. Mazurek, S. J. Pogorzelski, A. D. Kogut
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Institute of Experimental Physics, University of Gdańsk,
Wita Stwosza 57, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2006;15(6):877-884
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ABSTRACT
A complete compositional or structural description of naturally-occurring surfactants on rain water is not currently feasible. A main limitation of previous work has been the lack of means for correlating force-area characteristics with the chemical makeup of the films. Instead of analyzing the chemical composition of rain waterfilm-forming organics, it is postulated here to introduce the novel scaling procedures (2D virial equation of state and 2d polymer film scaling theory) applied to the surface pressure-area (π-A) isotherms and surface pressure-temperature (π-t) isochors and resulting from generalized physical formalisms modified to a multicomponent surfactant film. A set of the introduced structural film state parameters (π, Γ, Alim, Eisoth, y, R, Mw, βs) could become sensitive indicators for surface-active source-specific organic matter pathway tracing, where the measurement of surfactant concentration and chemical analyses are avoided. The concept is quantified using the Langmuir trough film and disdrometer data on a set of rain water events observed in Gdańsk, Poland in May 2002.