Measurement of vapor deposition and extraction recovery of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adsorbed on particulate solids
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), released (in the vapor phase) into the atmosphere via combustion of fossil fuels, are believed to adsorb on atmospheric particulate surfaces. The chemical behavior of an adsorbed PAH is strongly dependent on the characteristics of the adsorbent. Studies of chemical transformations of adsorbed PAHs usually require that the PAHs and/or their transformation products be extracted from the adsorbent and then analyzed by conventional spectrometric or chromatographic methods. Some adsorbents (especially coal ashes and other carbonaceous substrates) retain PAHs with such avidity that recoveries by conventional solvent (or even supercritical fluid) extractions are much less than 100/sup 5/. Measurement of extraction recovery is straightforward when a PAH is adsorbed onto a particular solid from a liquid solution but is less facile when the adsorbate is deposited onto the adsorbent from the vapor phase. (For example, radiotracer techniques are not readily applicable with adequate safety to vapor-deposition experiments). Herein the authors describe techniques for measuring the quantity of organic adsorbate vapor that deposits on a particulate solid an determining the subsequent recovery of that adsorbate by extraction. The principal component of the apparatus is a gas-chromatographic flame ionization detector (FID), used to measure the mass flow rate of PAH to which the adsorbent; the chemical reactivity of pyrene adsorbed on particulate solids has been studied extensively.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville
- DOE Contract Number:
- AS05-81ER60006
- OSTI ID:
- 6044189
- Journal Information:
- Anal. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Anal. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 59:20; ISSN ANCHA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
400105* -- Separation Procedures
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ADSORPTION
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXTRACTION
FLOW RATE
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PYRENE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SORPTION