[Determination of 1-nitropyrene by high performance liquid chromatography--an analysis of diesel engine soot]

In the present paper, a method is described for the determination of nitroarene, (nitrated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) in pollutants. Organic compounds in diesel engine soot samples were extracted with 10 ml ethanol and 40 ml benzene for 10 minutes by using a ultrasonic apparatus. The aromatic nitro compounds extracted were redissolved in methanol and converted to aromatic amines by using hydrochloric acid and zinc powder for 15 minutes. The reduced aromatic amines were extracted with benzene, and the extract was completely evaporated under nitrogen gas and then the residue was redissolved in cyclohexane. The reduced fraction in cyclohexane was chromatographed on a silica gel column and divided into two portions. The aromatic amino compounds were contained in the second fraction, which was eluted with benzene and was completely evaporated under nitrogen gas. On the other hand, the residue was redissolved in acetonitrile. The aromatic amino compounds in acetonitrile were separated and determined by means of high performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a UV and fluorescence detectors. In diesel engine soot samples, 1-nitropyrene, 9-nitroanthracene, and 1-nitrofluorene were detected. 1-nitropyrene could be determined and its content was 59-1020 ng/g. By this method, 1-nitropyrene in pollutants could be analyzed easily.