Application of Multidimensional Gas Chromatography to Analysis for Nitrated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Airborne Particulate Matter

摘要

Multidimensional gas chromatography (MDGC) in combination with simplified sample handling and detection procedures was evaluated for the determination of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) in particulate matter. Extraction was carried out by sonication. The extract was cleaned up using a short Florisil column, filtered, concentrated, and injected by means of a capillary on-column injector. Heart-cuts taken from the front column were focused on the back column, which was equipped with parallel detectors (flame ionization detector (FID) and nitrogen selective detector (NSD)). Unambiguous identification of chromatographic peaks from the combined information on front and back column retention times and the NSD/FID peak response ratios was demonstrated in the case of 1-nitropyrene. The limit of detection for 1-nitropyrene at 2 x noise was calculated to be 36 picograms under the NSD/FID splitter ratio employed in this study.