PENTAFLUOROBENZYL DERIVATIVES FOR THE GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF HYDROXY-POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS IN URBAN AEROSOLS

A method for the analysis of hydroxy-substituted polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (hydroxy-PAHs), using gas chromatography with electron-ca pture (ECD) and mass spectrometric (MS) detectors, is described. Penta fluorobenzyl bromide (PFBBr) was used as derivatizing agent for the hy droxy-PAHs. Optimization of the derivatization conditions was performe d, and electron impact and negative ion chemical ionization mass spect ra were studied. Detection limits ranged from 0.01 to 3.3 pg in ECD an d negative ion chemical ionization mode (NICI)-SIM-MS values that allo wed the determination of these compounds in environmental samples. Sam ples of air particulate matter were collected for the analysis of hydr oxy-PAHs. The concentrations found for 5-hydroxyindol, 2-nitro-1-napht hol, 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and 2-hydroxy-9-fluorenone ranged be tween 5 and 189 pg/m(3).