Date of Award

Summer 8-22-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry

Organizational Unit

College of Natural Science and Mathematics, Chemistry and Biochemistry

First Advisor

Brian J. Majestic

Second Advisor

Sandra Eaton

Third Advisor

Keith Miller

Fourth Advisor

Michelle Knowles

Fifth Advisor

Maria Calbi

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Alpha pinene, Clay minerals, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Gas-solid interface, Naphthalene, Solid-gaseous sorption

Abstract

Soil-derived mineral dust plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry by acting as a reactive interface for gas–particle interactions that influence the fate and transport of organic contaminants. Among soil components, clay minerals dominate surface reactivity due to their high surface area, structural complexity, and the presence of chemically active sites arising from cation exchange capacity and surface acidity. Environmental conditions, particularly relative humidity, further regulate these interactions by altering surface accessibility and competitive adsorption processes.

Despite the recognized importance of mineral dust, gas-phase interactions between organic compounds and clay minerals remain insufficiently understood, particularly under atmospherically relevant conditions. This gap is especially critical for environmentally significant compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and biogenic volatile organic compounds. Naphthalene, a volatile PAH commonly produced during incomplete combustion and wildfire events, and α-pinene, a major biogenic monoterpene, both contribute to air quality and secondary organic aerosol formation through heterogeneous reactions.

This dissertation investigates the sorption behavior and surface reactivity of naphthalene and α-pinene on representative smectite clays and San Joaquin soil under varying relative humidity conditions. By examining the influence of clay structure, cation composition, and environmental parameters, this work elucidates the mechanisms governing adsorption and chemical transformation of organic compounds on soil-derived particles. The findings provide new insight into the role of mineral dust in atmospheric processes and improve understanding of how soil–organic interactions impact the environmental fate of both anthropogenic and biogenic compounds.

Copyright Date

8-2026

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Liesl T. Jensen

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

179 pgs

File Size

5.5 MB

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