M. Jang et Sr. Mcdow, PRODUCTS OF BENZ[A]ANTHRACENE PHOTODEGRADATION IN THE PRESENCE OF KNOWN ORGANIC-CONSTITUENTS OF ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOLS, Environmental science & technology, 31(4), 1997, pp. 1046-1053
Little is known about atmospheric reaction mechanisms or products of p
olycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with aerosol particles. Pro
ducts of benz[a]anthracene photodegradation were determined after irra
diation of benz[a]anthracene in the presence of three common constitue
nts of atmospheric aerosols previously found to accelerate benz[a]anth
racene photodegradation; 9,10-anthraquinone, g-xanthone, and vanillin.
Irradiation was carried out in toluene, benzene, and benzene-d(6), an
d products were analyzed by GCMS, FTIR, and NMR. Among the major tenta
tively identified products were benz[a]anthracene-7,12-dione, phthalic
acid, phthalic anhydride, and 1,2-benzenedicarboxaldehyde. Evidence f
or production of polycylic dicarboxylic acids and dialdehydes was also
obtained. Product distribution was strongly influenced by solvent eff
ects and dissolved aerosol constituents. The results suggest that prod
ucts of PAH photodegradation in atmospheric aerosols are likely to be
quite complex and strongly influenced by the organic composition of PA
H-containing aerosol particles.