Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in particulate fallout of Alexandria, Egypt: Sources and implications

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00010a004· OSTI ID:121607

Aboul-Kassim, T A.T.; Simoneit, B R.T. ^[1]

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1. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)

Particulate fallout samples (PFS) were collected in Alexandria, and their aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon compositions were determined both quantitatively and qualitatively to characterize the homologous and biomarker compounds in terms of their original sources. The results show that all samples contain aliphatic hydrocarbons, including n-alkanes, UCM, isoprenoids, tri- and tetracyclic terpanes, hopanes, and steranes/diasteranes. The main source of these compounds is from petrochemical contamination with trace input of terrestrial higher plant wax. In addition, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are considered to be combustion products from fossil fuels such as petroleum, are also widely distributed in all samples. Multivariate statistical analysis, including extended Q-mode factor analysis and linear programming technique, was performed in order to reduce the hydrocarbon data set into a meaningful number of end members (sources). This analysis indicates that there are two significant end members explaining 90% of the total variation among the samples and confirming petrochemical (79.6%), and thermogenic/pyrolytic (10.4%) sources in the PFS model. 65 refs., 7 figs., 4 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 121607
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 29; ISSN 0013-936X; ISSN ESTHAG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

40 CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
ALKANES
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
EGYPTIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
FALLOUT
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HYDROCARBONS
MASS SPECTRA
MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS
POLLUTION SOURCES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS