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Gas chromatographic retention behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkyl-substituted PAHs on two stationary phases of different selectivity

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Abstract

Retention indices (I) for 45 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 63 methyl-substituted PAHs were determined by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using two different stationary phases: a Rxi-PAH phase (a “higher phenyl-content stationary phase”) and a 50% (mole fraction) liquid crystalline dimethylpolysiloxane phase. Retention data were obtained for parent PAHs from molecular mass (MM) 128 g/mol (naphthalene) to 328 g/mol (benzo[c]picene) and for 12 sets of methyl-PAHs (methylfluorenes, methylanthracenes, methylphenanthrenes, methylfluoranthenes, methylpyrenes, methylbenz[a]anthracenes, methylbenzo[c]phenanthrenes, methylchrysenes, methyltriphenylenes, methylbenzo[a]pyrenes, methylperylenes, and methylpicenes). Molecular shape descriptors such as length-to-breath ratio (L/B) and thickness (T) were determined for all the PAHs studied. Correlation between I and L/B ratio was evaluated for both stationary phases with a better correlation observed for the 50% liquid crystalline phase (correlation coefficients ranging from 0.22 to 1.00).

GC separation of six methylchrysene isomers (m/z 242) on two different stationary phases: 50 % phenyl-like methylpolysiloxane phase and 50 % liquid crystalline phase. Retention indices (I) are plotted as a function of L/B for both phases. The data marker numbers identify each isomer based on methyl-substitution position.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Sciences Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA

    Federica Nalin, Lane C. Sander, Walter B. Wilson & Stephen A. Wise

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  1. Federica Nalin
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  2. Lane C. Sander
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  3. Walter B. Wilson
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Correspondence to Federica Nalin.

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Certain commercial equipment or materials are identified in this paper to specify adequately the experimental procedure. Such identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.

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Published in the topical collection celebrating ABCs 16th Anniversary.

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Nalin, F., Sander, L.C., Wilson, W.B. et al. Gas chromatographic retention behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkyl-substituted PAHs on two stationary phases of different selectivity. Anal Bioanal Chem 410, 1123–1137 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-017-0700-4

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