Vuious metal powders were batch screened as possible on-line reducers for nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocerbons (NPAHs), in particular lJ-dinitropyrene (lJ-DNP), 1,6-DNP, 1,8-DNP and l-nitropyrene (1-NP) uul its metaWtes. Zinc was found to be an excellent reducer in chemiluminescent compatible mobile phases without any PgsOdPtOd disposal problems. Zinc reducer column parameters, namely pH, buffer concentration, packing cornposition (zinc:glpss beads or zinc:silica gel) and column length were all optimized for the HPLC dcterminrtlon system with chemiluminescence detection, named NPAH analyser.
Tbe system consisted of three pumps, sample ijector, reducer column packed with zinc:glass beads, switching vdvt with a cutting loop, separation column (ODs), chemiluminescence detector and integrator. The mobile phse for the seppratioa column and chemiluminescence reagent solution were r'espectively acetonittlle:imidPzd~HC!lO4 and acetonitrile containing bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate and H202. When the reducer column was introduad before the separation column, 14-, 1,6-,1,8-DNps and 1-NP in benzene:ethanol from airborne partidates were separately determined with detection limits of 2-5Ofmol, I'espectiveIy, in a 1M)LL sample. when the reducer column was introduced just after the separation column, I-Np, 1-~trampyrene .ad l-aminopynne in the incubation mixture of 1-NP and the Salmonella typhimurium yG1021 we= sepurt+ly determind with detection limits as low as sub fmol levels. 1,8-DNP and its metabolite were &o separately determined in the incubation mixture of 1,8-DNP and the S. typhimudum TA98 strain.
EITRODUCTION
Nitroplycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) are produced during the combustion of fossil fuels, biomass and similar materials. They have been identified as largely responsible for direct-acting mutagenicity in ambient air (9 19% by John Wilcy Br Sons, Ltd.