Multivariate Optimization of Extraction Variables of PAH in Particulate Matter (PM10) in Indoor/Outdoor Air at Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil

This study aims to evaluate the presence of outdoor and indoor PAH in 10 µm particulate matter (PM10) at one university in Campos dos Goytacazes. PM10 samples were collected from January to November 2018. Samples were extracted using an ultrasonic probe and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The ideal extraction conditions (3 min; 150 W ; 50 mL) were defined by 23 full factorial design. The analysis showed a significant PM10 level increase (23.19 to 34.50 µg m-3 in outdoor, and 15.15 to 31.66 µg m-3 in indoor samples) and higher total PAH concentration in the harvesting season (outdoor: 0.73 ng m-3; indoor 0.52 ng m-3) than in no n-harvesting season (outdoor: 0.49 ng m-3; indoor: 0.28 ng m-3), however, average PAH values found in outdoor samples in harvesting season did not show significant difference from non-harvesting season.
Source: Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research