PYROLYSIS COMPOUNDS IN THE SOOT FROM THE SELF-DESTRUCTION OF AN ELECTRICAL AUTOTRANSFORMER

The GC/MS analysis of soot derived from the pyrolysis of some componen ts of an autotransformer showed the presence of compounds such as the common polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-(PAH) and phthalates, generall y present in every fire, as well as epsilon-caprolactam, cyanoarenes, and bromophenols arising from the degradation of thermoplastic resin w hich was used as an insulator. Unexpectedly phenalen-1-one, a substanc e found in catalytically cracked fuels, in polluted urban atmospheres and in gasoline or diesel exhaust particulates, was also detected at a concentration of 0.27 mug mg-1 in the soot. The mutagen effect of thi s compound is well known and should lead to the new evaluation of the health risks involved in the event of such devices overheating.