Separation and Determination of Trace Dinitropyrenes by Means of Off-Line Reduction-HPLC-Chemihiminescence Detection. Application to Assessing Atmospheric Environment

Abstract

A flow injection analysis (FIA) system using a bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate (TCPO)-hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) chemiluminescence (CL) system was developed for the determination of small amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The system allowed us to determine PAH over a wide range of concentrations with the detection limits (S/N=5) of 0.05 pg (perylene), 65 pg (anthracene), and 75 pg (pyrene). On the basis of the results, an off-line reduction-HPLC-CL detection system was developed for separation and determination of dinitropyrenes (DNPs) as the specific PAH. DNPs were reduced to diaminopyrenes (DAPs), which were then analyzed by the HPLC equipped with the CL detector. A metal-free system was developed by use of plastic-frame column and all Teflon-made line. These new devices have improved the sensitivity and the reproducibility of determination; DNPs were determined over a wide range of concentration with the detection limit (S/N=5) of 0.025 pg (1,8-, 1,6-DNP) and 0.05 pg (1,3-DNP). The present off-line reduction-HPLC system was applied to the determination of individual DNP at trace levels in the atmosphere.