Abstract
The interactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with particulate surfaces (especially those of coal fly ash) have been investigated, and the influence of coal ash surface properties on the photochemical transformation of adsorbed PAHs has been studied. The overall objective of the work has been to characterize the effects of adsorption onto atmospheric particulate matter on the chemical behavior of PAHs released into the atmosphere via combustion processes. Progress is reported in the following areas of effort: (a) Major emphasis has been devoted to the interactions of PAHs with the different particulate phases that are found in heterogeneous coal ash samples. Techniques have been developed and thoroughly characterized for the fractionation of coal ashes into carbonaceous, mineral-magnetic, and mineral-nonmagnetic subfractions. Heats of adsorption for pyrene on such subfractions have been measured by gas-solid chromatography, and the photoreactivity of pyrene and benz[a]anthracene on ash subfractions has been examined. Carbonaceous particles exhibit the highest affinity for vapor-phase PAHS; mineral magnetic particles usually exhibit the smallest tendency to sorb PAHs from the vapor phase. Adsorption of PAHs on carbonaceous particles suppresses, virtually completely, their tendency to undergo photochemical transformation. For coal ashes that contain few carbonaceous particles, the adsorption and photochemical transformation ofmore » PAHs tend to be dominated by the mineral nonmagnetic particles; PAHs adsorbed on these particles tend to exhibit relatively efficient phototransformation.« less
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