Measurements of lower carbonyls and hydrocarbons at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard.

Measurements of gaseous organic compounds were carried out near Ny-Alesund, in the Norwegian Arctic, during September 2004. Twenty alkanes, alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons from ethane to toluene and six aldehydes and ketones from formaldehyde to butanal, were identified and quantified in air samples. Hydrocarbons showed a quite uniform distribution, with ethane being by far the most abundant component (> 1 ppb), followed by propane (> 0.

Measurement of phase-distributed nitrophenols in Rome ambient air.

Atmospheric nitrophenols (NPs) were determined both in the gas and particle phases by combining the annular denuder sampling technique with GC-MS analysis. The phase distribution of six mono-NPs identified in air sampled in downtown Rome was assessed. 4-NP, 3-methyl-4-NP and 2,6-dimethyl-4-NP were found for more than 75% in the particle phase, whilst 2-NP, 4-methyl-2-NP and 5-methyl-2-NP predominated in the gas phase.

Characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and carbonyl compounds in diesel exhaust emissions.

Exhaust emissions from a recent model heavy-duty diesel vehicle (city bus) in a chassis dynamometer were measured during a transient driving cycle. Particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and gaseous carbonyls, substances that create health hazards and are, as yet, unregulated were collected, the former on filters and the latter on dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-coated silica cartridges and analysed by GC-MS and HPLC, respectively. PAH emission rates decreased with the number of benzene fused rings.

Simultaneous determination of HCHO, CH3CHO and O(x) in ambient air by hydrazine reagent and hplc.

Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, ozone and nitrogen dioxide in ambient air are simultaneously collected on silica gel cartridges coated with 1-methyl-1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazine (MDNPH), where the two aldehydes are derivatized to their respective hydrazones, while the two oxidants are converted into N-methyl-2,4-dinitroaniline (MDNA). The three products are then separated and quantified by HPLC with UV detection at 360 nm. The stoichiometric factors of the MDNPH reactions with O3 and NO2 in laboratory tests correspond to 2.

A new device for reducing diesel engine emissions: a preliminary investigation.

A new catalytic converter is compose by a alloy noble metal supported on inert wool and located downstream to combustion chamber appears able to markedly reduce the content of toxic organics, fine particulates and CO emitted by a diesel engine equipped truck. By contrast, emissions of NOx and particulate n-alkanes remain unaltered or increase, according to the driving and operating conditions of the vehicle. Although this tesrs are preliminary the results obtained, however, suggest that the adoption of this device significantly reduce the health risk associated to fine aerosols and carcinogenic PAH.

Observation of volatile and semi-volatile carbonyls in an Algerian urban environment using dinitrophenylhydrazine/silica-HPLC and pentafluorophenylhydrazine/silica-GC-MS.

Lower carbonyls and n-alkanals from C5 to C10 were measured from late autumn 2000 to summer 2001 in two urban areas in the Algerian territory: Algiers and Ouargla. They were collected on silica cartridges coated with dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) and pentafluorophenylhydrazine (PFPH), which were analysed by HPLC-UV and high-resolution GC-MS. respectively.