PAH stability

The siimples were analysed by fluorescence spectroscopy at the conditions for each specific PAH [5] previously determined with the model compounds. The PAH studied are those listed by the US Environmental Protection Agency as priority pollutants [6] Fluorene, Benzo(a)Pyrene, Pyrene, Chrysene, Anthracene, Acenaphthene, Bezo(a)Anthracene, Dibenzo(a,h)Anthracene, Coronene, Perylene and Benzo(k)fluoranthene. In addition, Coronene emissions were also reported due to their important role on PAH stabilization at extreme conditions [7]. These 16 PAH were analysed from all runs in each of the four samples. 

Previous research in this project dealt mainly with soxhlet extraction in general and related work as purification of solvents and extracts, testing several solvents in terms of extraction power to PAH, stability at boiling point and selectivity. Previously used solvents were methanol, dichloro-methane, trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, all xylenes, mesitylene, tetralin, tetrahydrofuran and acetic acid. 

Stabilizing resonances also occur in other systems. Some well-known ones are the allyl radical and square cyclobutadiene. It has been shown that in these cases, the ground-state wave function is constructed from the out-of-phase combination of the two components [24,30]. In Section HI, it is shown that this is also a necessary result of Pauli s principle and the permutational symmetry of the polyelectronic wave function When the number of electron pairs exchanged in a two-state system is even, the ground state is the out-of-phase combination [28]. Three electrons may be considered as two electron pairs, one of which is half-populated. When both electron pahs are fully populated, an antiaromatic system arises ("Section HI). 

The first step, protonation of the double bond of the enol, is analogous to the protonation of the double bond of an alkene. It takes place more readily, however, because the carbocation formed in this step is stabilized by resonance involving delocalization of a lone pah of oxygen. 

The oxygen in furan has two unshared electron pairs (Figure 11.16c). One pair is like the pah in pyrrole, occupying a p orbital and contributing two electrons to complete the six-TT electron requhernent for aromatic stabilization. The other electron pair in furan is an extra pah, not needed to satisfy the 4n + 2 rule for aromaticity, and occupies an 5/r -hybridized orbital like the unshared pair in pyridine. 

Reagents. Perylene was obtained from Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, Missouri). All other PAHs were supplied by Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and were reported to contain less that 3% impurities. All PAHs were used without further purification. Isopropyl ether (99%) for extraction work was also purchased from Aldrich. Hydroquinone, a fluorescent stabilizer present in the ether, was removed prior to solution preparation by rotary evaporation. Fluorometric-grade 1-butanol was supplied by Fisher Scientific Company (Fair Lawn, New Jersey). All solutions for extractions of PAHs were prepared by evaporating portions of a stock cyclohexane solution and diluting to the appropriate volume with isopropyl ether. Fluorescence measurements were performed on 1 10 dilutions of the stock and final organic phase solutions. The effect of dissolved CDx on the fluorescence intensity of the organic phase PAH was minimized by dilution with isopropyl ether. 

Stability Assessment In general there is no formal stability study prior to the certification of a natural matrix S RM. H owever, the stability of the certified analytes is monitored on a regular basis, typically every 1-3 years depending on the analytes, as the SRMs are analyzed as control samples during the analyses of similar matrix samples. A recent study of PAHs in frozen mussel tissue over nearly 10 years found no significant changes in the concentrations of the measured PAHs (Schantz et al. 2000). 

In aromatic combustion flames, cyclopentadienyl radicals (c-CgHj ) can be precursors for PAH formation. " At high temperatures, benzene is oxidized by reaction with an oxygen molecule to yield phenylperoxy (C6H5O2 ) radical, via the initial formation of the phenyl radical (by C-H bond cleavage) and then the rapid addition of O2 (reaction 6.16). After expulsion of CO from phenylperoxy radical, a resonance-stabilized cyclopentadienyl radical (c-CgHg ) is formed (reaction 6.16). 

Phytostabilization Soils, sediments Metals and metalloids (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, U, Se) Hydrophobic organics (PAHs, PCBs, dioxins, furans, pentachlorophenol, DDT, dieldrin) Phreatophyte trees to transpire large amounts of water for hydraulic control Grasses with fibrous roots to stabilize soil erosion Dense root systems are needed to sorb/bind contaminants... 

The first question to ask about the formation of interstellar molecules is where the formation occurs. There are two possibilities the molecules are formed within the clouds themselves or they are formed elsewhere. As an alternative to local formation, one possibility is that the molecules are synthesized in the expanding envelopes of old stars, previously referred to as circumstellar clouds. Both molecules and dust particles are known to form in such objects, and molecular development is especially efficient in those objects that are carbon-rich (elemental C > elemental O) such as the well-studied source IRC+10216.12 Chemical models of carbon-rich envelopes show that acetylene is produced under high-temperature thermodynamic equilibrium conditions and that as the material cools and flows out of the star, a chemistry somewhat akin to an acetylene discharge takes place, perhaps even forming molecules as complex as PAHs.13,14 As to the contribution of such chemistry to the interstellar medium, however, all but the very large species will be photodissociated rapidly by the radiation field present in interstellar space once the molecules are blown out of the protective cocoon of the stellar envelope in which they are formed. Consequently, the material flowing out into space will consist mainly of atoms, dust particles, and possibly PAHs that are relatively immune to radiation because of their size and stability. It is therefore necessary for the observed interstellar molecules to be produced locally. 

In a study looking at solvent stability [424], various aqueous-miscible solvents (tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile, isopropanol, methanol, and A,A-dimethylformamide) were used with pinacyanol chloride as substrate. Although a PAH was not used as a substrate, the results may be extrapolated to PAH reactions. The greater impact of peroxide as compared to the solvent on biocatalyst stability was reported in this study and the need to control peroxide concentration was noted. 

For the alternant PAH that have been studied extensively, bay-region diol epoxides are important metabolically activated forms. Studies of the chemical and biological activity of a variety of diol epoxides have provided insight into the factors related to reactivity and biological activity. Chemical reactivity, as measured by spontaneous hydrolysis, correlated well with calculated quantum chemical parameters that estimate ir-electron stabilization upon conversion of the epoxide to a benzylic carbocation, provided... 

Human activities have resulted in exposure of Antarctic fishes to petroleum-derived PAHs (McDonald et al. 1992). Fish captured near Palmer station on the Antarctic peninsula had induced EROD activities and elevated concentrations of biliary PAH metabolites of phenanthrene and naphthalene when compared to conspecifics from reference sites (McDonald et al. 1995). Artificial reefs consisting of oil and coal flyash stabilized with cement and lime in Florida waters near Vero Beach contained elevated PAH levels ranging from as high as 1.2 mg fluoranthene/kg and 0.25 mg naphthalene/kg. But there is negligible leaching because seawater is not an effective medium for removing PAHs from reef bricks or the ash (Frease and Windsor 1991). 

Willumsen and Karlson [125] screened 57 PAH-degrading bacteria isolated from PAH-contaminated soil for the production of biosurfactant compounds. The majority of the strains isolated on phenanthrene, pyrene, and fluoranthene were better emulsifiers than surface-tension reducers, and the stability of the... 

The focus of the next four chapters (Chapters 14-17) is mainly on the theoretical/computational aspects. Chapter 14 by T. S. Sorensen and E. C. F. Yang examines the involvement of p-hydrido cation intermediates in the context of the industrially important heptane to toluene dehydrocyclization process. Chapter 15 by P. M. Esteves et al. is devoted to theoretical studies of carbonium ions. Chapter 16 by G. L. Borosky and K. K. Laali presents a computational study on aza-PAH carbocations as models for the oxidized metabolites of Aza-PAHs. Chapter 17 by S. C. Ammal and H. Yamataka examines the borderline Beckmann rearrangement-fragmentation mechanism and explores the influence of carbocation stability on the reaction mechanism. 

Model computational studies aimed at understanding structure-reactivity relationships and substituent effects on carbocation stability for aza-PAHs derivatives were performed by density functional theory (DFT). Comparisons were made with the biological activity data when available. Protonation of the epoxides and diol epoxides, and subsequent epoxide ring opening reactions were analyzed for several families of compounds. Bay-region carbocations were formed via the O-protonated epoxides in barrierless processes. Relative carbocation stabilities were determined in the gas phase and in water as solvent (by the PCM method). 

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