Qualitative characterization of three combustion-related standard reference materials for polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles and their alkyl-substituted derivatives via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Published

May 7, 2018

Author(s)

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

Abstract

This study represents the most comprehensive qualitative characterization of three combustion- related standard reference materials (SRMs) for polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs) and some alkyl-substituted (alkyl-) derivatives to date: SRM 1597a (coal tar), SRM 1991 (coal tar/petroleum extract), and SRM 1975 (diesel particulate extract). An analytical approach based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is presented for the determination of three-, four-, and five-ring PASH isomers and three- and four-ring alkyl-PASHs in the three SRM samples. The benefit of using a normal-phase liquid chromatography (NPLC) fractionation procedure prior to GC/MS analysis was demonstrated for multiple isomeric PASH groups. Using a semi-preparative aminopropyl (NH2) LC column, the three combustion-related samples were fractionated based on the number of aromatic carbon atoms. The NPLC-GC/MS method presented here allowed for the following identification breakdown: SRM 1597a – 35 PASHs and 59 alkyl-PASHs; SRM 1991 – 31 PASHs and 58 alkyl-PASHs; and SRM 1975 – 13 PASHs and 25 alkyl-PASHs. These identifications were based on NPLC retention data, the GC retention times of reference standards, and the predominant molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum. Prior to this study, only 11, 1, and 0 PASHs/alkyl-PASHs had been identified in SRM 1597a, 1991, and 1975, respectively.

Citation

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-018-1065-z

Keywords

gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles, standard reference materials, combustion-related samples

Citation

Wilson, W. , Hayes, H. , Campiglia, A. and Wise, S. (2018), Qualitative characterization of three combustion-related standard reference materials for polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles and their alkyl-substituted derivatives via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, [online], https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-018-1065-z (Accessed April 24, 2024)