The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
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Title:	Three studies on airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Author:	Eveleens, Carol Sophia
View Online:	njit-etd1984-024 (viii, 79 pages ~ 1.9 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Engineering Science
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Greenberg, Arthur (Committee chair) Kebbekus, Barbara B. (Committee member) Bozzelli, Joseph W. (Committee member)
Date:	1984-05
Keywords:	Hydrocarbons Hydrocarbon research Air quality
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	Three studies have been conducted on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found on airborne particulate matter. The first investigation involves the determination of fly ash "activity" in the reaction of two PAHs adsorbed on its surface. Mass spectrometry is used to monitor the exchange of hydrogen and deuterium atoms between anthracene and anthracene-d10. The results indicate that some fly ashes exhibit "activity" in the reactions of PAHs adsorbed on its surface. The second investigation involves the determination of cyclopenta[cd]pyrene (CcdP) and benzo[ghi]flouranthene (BghiF) on samples of airborne particulate material collected from two automobile traffic tunnels. Glass capillary gas chromatography with a precolumn injector system is used to quantitate these two compounds. The results indicate that CcdP is a significant constituent of automobile emissions and that BghiF is present in concentrations much lower than CcdP. The last investigation involves the attempted identification of benzyl sulfate, the sulfate ester of benzyl alcohol, on ambient air particulate samples. Reverse—phase high pressure liquid chromatography is used to determine the presence or absence of benzyl sulfate on particulate matter. The results are inconclusive at present.