| Mutagenic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their nitrated derivatives (nitro-PAHs), in complex environmental samples require a multi-level separation scheme before they can be positively identified. Diesel soot samples were collected in an outdoor bus station in Atlantic City, New Jersey, from October of 1990 to February of 1991. A rapid and simple method for routine trace analysis of selected nitro-PAHs in diesel soot samples is employed by using normal phase and reverse phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with UV and fluorescence detection. The study of a zinc post-column reaction chamber and oxygen scrubber for catalytic reduction of target compounds is also described. 2-Nitrofluoranthene and other PAH derivatives were identified in this study. The results suggest possible chemical transformations during the sampling periods. |
