On‐line LC‐GC‐AED and LC‐GC‐MS – multidimensional methods for the analysis of PAC in fuels, combustion emissions and atmospheric samples

Abstract

SummaryThe composition and concentration of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) in fuels, their combustion products and in the atmosphere remains a topic of considerable interest. Despite the wealth of literature on the identification of PAC, speciation at low concentrations remains difficult due to instrument limitation and the complexity of fuel and environmental samples. Consequently online sample preparation procedures (SPE, SFE, LC, etc.) are becoming an increasingly important step in the analysis procedure particularly where sample clean-up and fractionation are essential for improving analytical resolution. In this study a normal phase high pressure liquid chromatography-gas chromatography (LC-GC) system has been developed to provide quantitative analysis of samples, as diverse as coal liquids, petroleum fuels, diesel exhaust particulates and urban air particulates. Separation and identification of parent and alkylated PAH, heterocyclic, nitro-and oxy-PAC can be achieved by direct coupling to an atomic emission detector and a bench top mass spectrometer. For both systems the primary LC separation combined with the large sample volume transferred to GC vastly improves detection limits. Furthermore the complimentary nature of the two detectors used enables the positive identification of many unknowns.

Review of Recent Advances in Detection of Organic Markers in Fine Particulate Matter and Their Use for Source Apportionment

“…The complimentary nature of the two separation systems enables the possibility of identification of many unknowns. 124 …”

Analysis of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by liquid chromatography with fluorescence and mass spectrometry detection: air particulate matter, soot, and reaction product studies

“…Other mass spectrometric methods for the analysis of nitro-PAH include HPLC-MS with a particle beam interface (EI and CI) [31], HPLC-GC systems coupled to an atomic emission detector or an ion trap mass spectrometer [32,33], and UV laser desorption and ionization coupled to negative ion time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) [34]. Recently, an HPLC system has been coupled with an electrochemical cell and a mass spectrometer, which allow the oxidation of nitro-PAH to highly polar derivatives for sensitive detection by mass spectrometry [35].…”

Determination of oxygenated polycyclic aromatic compounds in airborne particulate organic matter using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

“…Moreover, a large volume of solvent is required [18]. Low detection limits using GC-MS are obtained provided an extensive clean-up is applied [15,16,19,20]. LC-MS has been also used to analyze O-PAHs in air particulate matter but only benzo(a)pyrene-diones have been quantified [21].…”