Effects of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter on Anthracene Photolysis Kinetics in Aqueous Solution and Ice

We measured photolysis kinetics of the PAH anthracene in aqueous solution, in bulk ice, and at ice surfaces in the presence and absence of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). Self-association, which occurs readily at ice surfaces, may be responsible for the faster anthracene photolysis observed there. Photolysis rate constants in liquid water increased under conditions where anthracene self-association was observed. Concomitantly, kinetics changed from first-order to second-order, indicating that the photolysis mechanism at ice surfaces might be different than that in aqueous solution. Other factors that could lead to faster photolysis at ice surfaces were also investigated. Increased photon fluxes due to scattering in the ice samples can account for at most 20% of the observed rate increase, and other factors including singlet oxygen (¹O₂∗) production and changes in pH and polarity were determined not to be responsible for the faster photolysis. CDOM (in the form of fulvic acid (FA)) did not affect anthracene photolysis kinetics in aqueous solution but suppressed photolysis in ice cubes and ice granules (by 30% and 56%, respectively). This was primarily due to competitive photon absorption (the inner filter effect). Freeze-concentration (or "salting out") appears to slightly increase the suppressing effects of FA on anthracene photolysis. This may be due to increased competitive photon absorption or to physical interactions between anthracene and FA.