Quantification of nitrated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric particulate matter

A derivatization-GC/ECD analytical method has been developed. This method involves first the reduction of nitrated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) to their corresponding amino-PAHs by NaBH(4). This is followed by derivatization of the amino-PAHs with heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA). Such derivatization provides a polyfluorinated tag to the NPAHs, which can then be detected and quantified at pg levels by GC/ECD. Using this method 1-nitronaphthalene (1-NNa), 4-nitrobiphenyl (4-NBp), 2-nitrofluorene (2-NFl) and l-nitropyrene (1-NPy) are positively identified and quantified in atmospheric particulate matter. The concentrations range from 1 to 100 pg/m(3). The distribution of NPAHs versus particle size has been studied and it has been found that the concentrations of NPAHs adsorbed on fine particles (<0.5 mu m) are 3-10 times higher than those on coarse particles (0.5-10 mu m). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.