Nitration of particle-associated PAHs and their derivatives (nitro-, oxy-, and hydroxy-PAHs) with NO3 radicals

Abstract

Theheterogeneousreactionsoftypicalpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbons(PAHs)andtheirderivatives(nitro-, oxy-, and hydroxy-PAHs) adsorbed on azelaic acid particles with NO3 radicals are investigated using a flowtube reactor coupled to a vacuum ultraviolet photoionization aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (VUV-ATOFMS). The mono-nitro-, di-nitro-, and poly-nitro-products from successive nitro-substitution reactions of PAHs and their derivatives are observed in real time with VUV-ATOFMS. 9-Nitroanthracene, anthraquinone, anthrone, 9,10-dinitroanthracene, 2-, 4-, and 9-nitrophenanthrene,1-nitropyrene,1,3-,1,6-, and1,8-dinitropyrene,7-nitrobenzo[a]anthracene,andbenzo[a]anthracene-7,12-dioneare identifiedbyGC/ MS analysis of the reaction products of PAHs and their derivatives coated on the inner bottom surface of the conical flasks with NO3 radicals. Other oxygenated products are tentatively assigned. 1-Nitropyrene is the only mono-nitrated product detected in the reaction of surface-bound pyrene with gas-phase NO3 radicals. This phenomenon is different from what has been observed in previous studies of the gas-phase pyrene nitration, showing that 2-nitropyrene is the sole nitration product. The experimental results may reveal the discrepancies between the heterogeneous and homogeneous nitrations of pyrene.