Identification of Volatile Organic Compounds Groups in the Ambient Air of the Jiu Valley Through Modern Investigation Methods

Abstract

One of the important environmental protection problems in Romania is air pollution, which is an extremely complex phenomenon. Industrialized urban settlements are susceptible to the phenomenon of pollution given the presence of various types of polluting species. The area of interest, where the study was carried out (Jiu Valley), is a mountainous region located in the southwestern part of Romania, known for its mineral resources and for the mining industry that dominated the region for several decades. Currently, the economic activity in Jiu Valley is focused on various light industry activities and mainly on the energy sector, through the mining units and the Paroseni thermal power plant, which is the major source of air pollution. This intense industrial activity has a significant impact on the environment and health of people in the region. Originality of this work consists in the fact that, as a result of thermal processes produced by burning fossil and/or non-conventional fuels, appreciable amounts of various types of polluting species are generated, which requires their qualitative and quantitative identification and quantification. Investigation and identification of gaseous pollutant species will be carried out by advanced methods of gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, which initially allow identification of the group of pollutants and, subsequently, their description in a quantifiable manner.