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Qualitative characterization of SRM 1597a Coal Tar for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and methyl-substituted derivatives via normal-phase liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Published

Author(s)

Walter B. Wilson, Hugh Hayes, Lane C. Sander, Andres Campiglia, Stephen A. Wise

Abstract

A normal-phase liquid chromatography (NPLC) fractionation procedure was developed for the characterization of a complex mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from a coal tar sample (Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1597a). Using a semi-preparative aminopropyl (NH2) LC column, the coal tar sample was separated using NPLC based on the number of aromatic carbons; a total of 14 NPLC fractions were collected. SRM 1597a was analyzed before and after NPLC fractionation by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with a 50% phenyl stationary phase. The NPLC-GC/MS method presented in this study allowed for the identification of 72 PAHs and 56 MePAHs. These identifications were based on the NPLC retention times for authentic reference standards, GC retention times for authentic reference standards, and the predominant molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum. Most noteworthy was the determination of DBalP, which could not be measured directly by GC/MS because of low concentration and co- elution with DBjlF. The NPLC-GC/MS procedure also allowed for the tentative identification of 74 PAHs and 117 MePAHs based on the molecular ion peak only. This study represents the most comprehensive qualitative characterization of SRM 1597a to date.
Citation
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Keywords

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, standard reference material, coal tar, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, normal-phase liquid chromatography

Citation

Wilson, W. , Hayes, H. , Sander, L. , Campiglia, A. and Wise, S. (2017), Qualitative characterization of SRM 1597a Coal Tar for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and methyl-substituted derivatives via normal-phase liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, [online], https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-017-0464-x (Accessed December 8, 2024)

Issues

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Created June 29, 2017, Updated January 27, 2020