Theoretical calculation of nitrogen isotope equilibrium exchange fractionation factors for various NOy molecules

Abstract

The nitrogen stable isotope ratio (15N/14N) of nitrogen oxides (NOx=NO+NO2) and its oxidation products (NOy=NOx+PAN (peroxyacetyl nitrate=C2H3NO5)+HNO3+NO3+HONO+N2O5+⋯+particulate nitrates) has been suggested as a tool for partitioning NOx sources; however, the impact of nitrogen (N) equilibrium isotopic fractionation on 15N/14N ratios during the conversion of NOx to NOy must also be considered, but few fractionation factors for these processes have been determined. To address this limitation, computational quantum chemistry calculations of harmonic frequencies, reduced partition function ratios (15β), and N equilibrium isotope exchange fractionation factors (αA/B) were performed for various gaseous and aqueous NOy molecules in the rigid rotor and harmonic oscillator approximations using the B3LYP and EDF2 density functional methods for the mono-substitution of 15N. The calculated harmonic frequencies, 15β, and αA/B are in good agreement with available experimental measurements, suggesting the potential to use computational methods to calculate αA/B values for N isotope exchange processes that are difficult to measure experimentally. Additionally, the effects of solvation (water) on 15β and αA/B were evaluated using the IEF-PCM model, and resulted in lower 15β and αA/B values likely due to the stabilization of the NOy molecules from dispersion interactions with water. Overall, our calculated 15β and αA/B values are accurate in the rigid rotor and harmonic oscillator approximations and will allow for the estimation of αA/B involving various NOy molecules. These calculated αA/B values may help to explain the trends observed in the N stable isotope ratio of NOy molecules in the atmosphere.