Toxicology of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons and their analysis
| Abstract Title: | Toxicology of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons and their analysis |
| Authors: | Vlad Agotici1,2, Ionel Ciucanu1, Petra Silvia Agotici1 |
| Affiliation: | 1 “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, Romania 2 West University of Timisoara, Romania, Department of Chemistry |
| Abstract text: | The volatile aromatic hydrocarbons are considered highly toxic, carcinogenic and dangerous for the environment. The toxicity of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons is caused mainly by the degradation products which form free radicals with high reactivity. These radicals can react with protein and DNA (Williams et al., 2001). Benzene toxicology differs from that of other solvents because it is a myelotoxin which affects the blood forming organs (e.g. marrow). The substituted volatile aromatic hydrocarbons are considered less toxic than benzene; however they are also regarded as substances of concern. These compounds can be analyzed by several techniques. Identification and also quantitative analysis can be made by UV, IR, Raman spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. For the separation of complex mixtures (in which these compounds often occur), thin layer, liquid or gas chromatography can be used. Gas chromatography is considered the most sensitive technique for the analysis of the volatile aromatic hydrocarbons. Since the concentration of the these compounds is very low in the samples, the direct injection of aqueous samples in gas chromatograph is not possible and several sample preparation methods have to be used (solid phase extraction, micro solid phase extraction, headspace analysis, single drop extraction, membrane extraction, wall coated syringe needle extraction). The concentration of these compounds can also be continuously monitored by gas chromatography and several automated and online monitoring methods have been developed. Three major volatile aromatic hydrocarbons: benzene, toluene and o- xylene were extracted from water using Micro-Solid-Phase Extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography. The extraction and separation of these compounds were good and this method can be successfully applied in environmental samples analysis. |
| Keywords: | volatile aromatic hydrocarbons, toxicity of aromatic hydrocarbons, analysis methods, chromatography, gas chromatography |
| Presentation type: | Oral |
| Correspondence: | no. 1 Feleacului St., Arad, Romania |
| Email: | Vlad.Agotici@eu.takata.com |
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