A sensitive method for the determination of 6-nitrochrysene, 2-nitro-fluoranthene and 1-, 2- and 4-nitropyrenes in airborne particulates using high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection

A sensitive method for the determination of 6-nitrochrysene (NC), 2-nitrofluoranthene (NF) and 1-, 2- and 4-nitropyrenes (NP) in airborne particulates is described. After ultrasonic extraction of airborne particulates with benzene/ethanol, the extract was injected into a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system. The system consisted of four pumps, an auto injector, two separation columns (ODS), a reduction column (zinc/glass beads), a concentration column (ODS), a switching valve, a column oven, a chemiluminescence detector and an integrator. Nitroarenes were separated on the first separation column and reduced to their corresponding aminoarenes through the reduction column. The elution bands containing the analytes were concentrated selectively onto the concentration column by increasing the water concentration of the mobile phase. By rotating the switching valve, the analytes were introduced into the second separation column, separated and then detected chemilumigenically. Detection limits were in the 0.3–5 fmol range. Utilizing the above method, atmospheric concentrations of the above five nitroarenes in Kanazawa were determined.