Standard test method for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in air particulate matter

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Annu. Book ASTM Stand.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7295192

This method covers the determination of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in air particulate matter. This method will easily determine microgram quantities of the various hydrocarbons per 1000 m/sup 3/ of air. The exact sensitivity is dependent upon volume of air sampled, and the type of pollution. If the hydrocarbons are present in microgram quantities, they can be determined. Since the Beer-Lambert law holds true for varying concentrations of the hydrocarbons, the range of the method can be easily extended by simple dilution of the fraction. The polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon content of air particulate matter is determined by a lengthy process involving air sampling, Soxhlet extraction, column chromatography, and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. Air particulate samples are collected on glass-fiber filters using a high-volume air sampler. The samples are then extracted with benzene in a Soxhlet extractor to obtain a benzene-soluble fraction of air particulate matter which is normally referred to as the ''organic fraction''. This organic fraction is then further separated into approximately 30 to 40 subfractions by means of column chromatography on alumina using increasing amounts of diethyl ether in pentane as the eluent. Each of the subfractions is dried, dissolved in pentane, and spectrophotometrically analyzed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon content. The polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons that can be effectively separated and analyzed by this technique, if they are present in a particular air sample, are anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(e)pyrene, perylene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, anthanthrene, and coronene.

• OSTI ID: 7295192
• Journal Information: Annu. Book ASTM Stand.; (United States), Journal Name: Annu. Book ASTM Stand.; (United States) Vol. 26; ISSN ASTSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400104* -- Spectral Procedures-- (-1987)
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
AIR
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHROMATOGRAPHY
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SAMPLING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLS
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
STANDARDS