Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
11-30-1987
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
First Advisor
Arthur Greenberg
Second Advisor
Barbara B. Kebbekus
Third Advisor
Gordon Lewandowski
Abstract
Since hazardous materials present in airborne pollutants can affect human health and environmental quality and most of the specific compounds remain uncharacterized, a study was conducted to characterize airborne particulate extractable organic matter (EOM) with respect to chemical composition. Specifically, a number of chemical classes including N-heterocycles, phenols, quinones, carboxylic acids, and especially N-nitrosamines were tested using an integrated chemical class screening system.
The inhalable particulate matter was collected, using a high volume 10 um inlet sampler, on the roof of Tiernan Hall, New Jersey Institute of Technology, which is located off Warren Street in Newark. Sequential solvent extractions yielded non-polar, moderately polar and polar fractions for each sample. EOM chemical classes were then determi4a using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) plates.
Results indicated that N-nitrosamines are not present in Newark airborne particulate matter. Previously, the presence of N-nitrosamines on airborne particulates had been claimed and then contradicted.
HPTLC analysis can be used in screening different ambient air samples for qualitative assessment of chemical class composition. In addition, by separating extrables into chemical classes, HPTLC can facilitate subsequent quantitative analysis.
Recommended Citation
Sun, Xueying, "Separation and characterization of biologically significant chemical classes in airborne particulate organic matter : measurement of selected chemical classes in freshly collected air samples" (1987). Theses. 3319.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3319
