Measurement of vapor deposition and extraction recovery of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adsorbed on particulate solids

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), released (in the vapor phase) into the atmosphere via combustion of fossil fuels, are believed to adsorb on atmospheric particulate surfaces (1,2). The chemical behavior of an adsorbed PAH is strongly dependent on the characteristics of the adsorbent (3-5).Studies of chemical transformations of adsorbed PAHs usually require that the PAHs and/or their transformation

Improved ultrasonic extraction recovery of benzo(a)pyrene from stack ash using high power/mass ratios

“…The procedure does, however, deposit them reproducibly in a manner in which the spike concentration is known precisely (1). This situation is contrasted to vapor-phase deposition, in which the manner of compound deposition is much closer to that occurring in the stack and plume of power generating plants, but the exact mass of organic material deposited cannot be determined exactly (11) unless a special apparatus is used (12). Also, spike levels of tens or hundreds of parts per million (ppm) from vapor-phase deposition are unrealistic (10).…”

“…The electrode currents increase as the electrolyte concentration is decreased due to larger diffusion coefficients at low ionic strength (7). Voltammetry at very low ionic strengths is not distorted by iR drop (11,12) because the current is distributed over the length of the electrode.…”