Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Adsorption and photodegradation of pyrene on magnetic, carbonaceous, and mineral subfractions of coal stack ash

Journal Article · · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00180a006· OSTI ID:6132375

Two coal stack ashes have been separated into three principal subfractions (carbonaceous, mineral, and magnetic). Photoreactivities and adsorptivities of pyrene on the three subfractions have been determined, the latter by gas-solid chromatography. For each ash, the carbonaceous subfraction is the strongest adsorbent and has the greatest ability to stabilize adsorbed pyrene toward photodegradation, while the mineral subfraction is a much weaker adsorbent and pyrene adsorbed on it shows relatively high photoreactivity. The magnetic subfraction is the weakest adsorbent, but any pyrene adsorbed on its surface is relatively resistant to photodegradation. The presence of even a small quantity of carbon in coal ash leads to stabilization of adsorbed pyrene toward photodegradation, by comparison with silica, alumina, or glass surfaces. The relative quantity of carbon in coal ash appears to be the main factor determining the extent of photochemical reactivity of pyrene adsorbed on the surface. In coal ashes that contain a relatively large quantity of iron, the magnetic particles may play a minor role in stabilizing adsorbed pyrene toward photodegradation.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AS05-81ER60006; FG05-87ER60552
OSTI ID:
6132375
Journal Information:
Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 23:3; ISSN ESTHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English