Chemical characterization and stable carbon isotopic composition of particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons issued from combustion of 10 Mediterranean woods

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to characterize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from particulate matter emitted during wood combustion and to determine, for the first time, the isotopic signature of PAHs from nine wood species and Moroccan coal from the Mediterranean Basin. In order to differentiate sources of particulate-PAHs, molecular and isotopic measurements of PAHs were performed on the set of wood samples for a large panel of compounds. Molecular profiles and diagnostic ratios were measured by gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC/MS) and molecular isotopic compositions (δ<sup>13</sup>C) of particulate-PAHs were determined by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS). Wood species present similar molecular profiles with benz(a)anthracene and chrysene as dominant PAHs, whereas levels of concentrations range from 1.8 to 11.4 mg g<sup>−1</sup> OC (sum of PAHs). Diagnostic ratios are consistent with reference ratios from literature but are not sufficient to differentiate the different species of woods. Concerning isotopic methodology, PAH molecular isotopic compositions are specific for each species and contrary to molecular fingerprints, significant variations of δ<sup>13</sup>C are observed for the panel of PAHs. This work allows differentiating wood combustion from others origins of particulate matter (vehicular exhaust) using isotopic measurements (with δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>PAH</sub> = −28.7 to −26.6‰) but also confirms the necessity to investigate source characterisation at the emission in order to help and complete source assessment models. These first results on woodburnings will be useful for the isotopic approach of source tracking

Stable carbon isotopic compositions of low‐molecular‐weight dicarboxylic acids, oxocarboxylic acids, α‐dicarbonyls, and fatty acids: Implications for atmospheric processing of organic aerosols

“…Previous studies suggest that Ph is unlikely to be produced by biogenic emissions but can be emitted from anthropogenic sources and/or produced by secondary oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as naphthalene, which are mainly derived from coal and biofuel combustion in source regions of East China [ Kautzman et al ., ; Kawamura and Kaplan , ; Kawamura and Yasui , ; Wang et al ., ]. 13 C composition in Ph was within the range (i.e., −27.1‰ to −22.6‰) of those in PAHs in source regions [ Guillon et al ., ; Peng et al ., ]. tPh can be directly produced from burning plastic wastes [ Wang et al ., ].…”

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of the mid-Adriatic and along the Croatian coast: Levels, distributions and sources

“…In the present calculations, no specific PAH source markers of wood combustion were used, such as selected alkylphenanthrene isomers. Likewise, certain heavy molecular weight (302 MW) compounds (known as gasoline and diesel combustion markers) were not included either (Ramdahl 1983, Benner et al 1995, Allen et al 1998, Guillon et al 2013. The addition of such compounds would possibly help to further resolve characteristic source profiles and their contributions from our set of data.…”

Characterization of PM2.5–bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Chiang Mai, Thailand during Biomass Open Burning Period of 2016

“…BPER (12.7%) was a dominant species for ncPAHs, high amount of FLA (12.5%), PHE (12.0%), PYR (8.8%) and ANT (4.5%) were observed. BPER, FLA and PYR were identified as dominant parent PAHs compounds in particulates from wood combustion [37][38]. Low molecular weight PAHs such as NAP, ACY and FLU, were found in very low concentration and ACE was not detected.…”

“…A part from that, cPAHs, i.e. BaA, CHR, IND and DbA have been reported as dominant parent PAHs compounds in particulates from wood or biomass combustion [37][38]41]. It implied that the trend of cPAHs concentration, which more high impact on human health, can be estimated from level of ambient PM2.5 that contributed from biomass burning.…”