High-Speed Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Diesel Exhaust Particulate Matter using UHPLC

By Jiawei Xu

Download PDF August 25, 2017

  • Industry

  • Technique

Introduction

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemicals generated when fuels are incompletely combusted, which are contained in industrial and car exhaust and are known as the main source of air pollution. Some of them are categorized as carcinogens and these compounds are subjected to the regulations of governmental agencies such as EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in U.S.A.

In this application, PAHs in diesel exhaust particulate matter are measured using Ultra High-performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) with PDA detection.

JASCO X-LC system

Experimental

Results

Figure 1 shows the chromatogram of the PAH standard mixture (EPA 610) and the contour plot. 16 compounds were clearly separated within 6 minutes.

Figure 1. Chromatogram of the PAH standard mixture. 1: Naphthalene, 2: Acenaphthylene, 3: Acenaphthene, 4: Fluorene, 5: Phenanthrene, 6: Anthracene, 7: Fluoranthene, 8: Pyrene, 9: Benzo[a]anthracene, 10: Chrysene, 11: Benzo[b]fluoranthene, 12: Benzo[k]fluoranthene, 13: Benzo[a]pyrene, 14: Dibenzo[ah]anthracene, 15: Benzo[ghi]perylene, 16: Indeno[123-cd]pyrene
Figure 2 shows the chromatogram and the contour plot of the sample solution that is extracted from diesel exhaust particulate matter with Soxhlet extraction. It was confirmed from the spectral information that PAHs were detected.

Figure 2. Chromatogram of extract from diesel exhaust particulate matter. The peak numbers and corresponding compounds are the same as in figure 2.

Sample preparation.

Sample solution was filtrated using 0.2 um membrane filter after Soxhlet extraction.

About the Author

Jiawei Xu