Identification and mutagenicity of nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds in synthetic fuels

Abstract

The detailed characterization of synfuel products and by-products can provide invaluable information relating to the environmental implications of synfuel production and the potential end uses of the products. This paper describes an effective analytical methodology for the separation and identification of nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic compound (N-PAC) in these materials, and the results obtained from mutagenicity assays of isolated fractions. Two solvent refined coal liquids were used for this study. Initial separation on neutral alumina was used to obtain an N-PAC fraction. Silicic acid adsorption chromatography was used to get separation of the N-PAC into three additional groups according to the functionality of the nitrogen heteroatom in the aromatic ring system. Then fraction 2 containing amino polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, APAH, was derivatized with pentafluoropropionic anhydride for further separation. (ATT)