Assessment by gas chromatography and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry of volatile hydrocarbons from biomass burning

Well over thirty combustion-formed non-methane hydrocarbons were determined from uncontrolled burning of biogenic materials. Results are given for straw, conifer twigs, newsprint and hardwood. Samples were taken on triple-layer adsorption cartridges. After thermal desorption, the hydrocarbons were separated by gas chromatography on an aluminium oxide column. Samples were also taken with a gas syringe and analyzed after gas injection. The hydrocarbon compositions were found to be remarkably similar for different kinds of biomass. Among 21 recorded alkenes and alkadienes, ethene was predominant, and the next most prominent species were propene and 1,3-butadiene. The large proportions of ethyne and the carcinogenic benzene increased further with increasing combustion efficiency

Assessment of ambient volatile hydrocarbons from tobacco smoke and from vehicle emissions

Quantitative proportions of C2-C8 alkenes, alkadienes, alkynes, alkanes and arenes were determined for indoor smoky air and for air inside a private car. Samples were taken on adsorbent cartridges and analysed by gas chromatography on an aluminium oxide column. The proportions of more than twenty reported alkenes, alkadienes and alkynes were demonstrated to be very similar in a smoky room and in sidestream cigarette smoke. Isoprene, ethene and propene are major components. Urban air polluted by petrol-fuelled vehicles differs mainly by having much lower proportions of isoprene and much higher proportions of petrol alkanes and alkylbenzenes. The total concentration of C2-C8 hydrocarbons was found to be similar in a smoky room and in a car in urban traffic

Volatile hydrocarbons from domestic wood burning

The quantitative proportions of 16 alkenes, 5 alkadienes, 5 alkynes and several alkanes and arenes were determined in emissions from wood burning in a wood-stove and in small-scale model experiments. Samples were taken on triple-layer adsorption cartridges, and gas chromatographic separations were performed on an aluminium oxide column.Ethene, ethyne and benzene were major components, especially from efficient flame combustion. The proportions of C3-C7 alkenes were markedly higher for smouldering. The carcinogenic compounds benzene and 1,3-butadiene constituted roughly 10-20% and 1-2% by weight of total non-methane hydrocarbons. Similar results were obtained for hardwood and softwood

Volatile hazardous hydrocarbons in a Scandinavian urban road tunnel

Vehicle-emitted hydrocarbons were assessed in the major Tingstad tunnel in G\uf6teborg, Sweden. Samples were taken on adsorbent cartridges and analyzed by gas chromatography after thermal desorption. Although the tunnel is only 454 m long, the concentration levels were found to be approximately five times higher than inside commuter cars on roads with similar traffic.Representative proportions of non-methane hydrocarbons were 14% for alkenes, 32% for alkanes and as much as 49% for arenes. Benzene and ethene, representing particular health hazards, constituted about 7% each. Characteristic concentration ratios are given for sixteen alkenes and alkadienes.Health hazards for vulnerable motorists and implications for existing and planned road tunnels are discussed

Exposure to volatile hydrocarbons in commuter trains and diesel buses

Percentage proportions of 25 C2-C7 hydrocarbons were determined inside both diesel buses and commuter trains in regular traffic. The hydrocarbons originate predominantly from petrol-fuelled vehicles. The total proportion of unburnt petrol components (mainly alkanes and arenes) was considerably larger than the proportion of combustion-formed components (mainly ethene, ethyne and propene). The approximate relative proportions 1 :1 :0.4 :0.1 were observed for the genotoxic species benzene, ethene, propene, and 1,3-butadiene. Isoprene from expired air of the passengers constituted a prominent fraction, particularly in the buses. Samples were taken on triple-layer adsorbent cartridges and were analyzed in the laboratory by thermal desorption and gas chromatography on an aluminium oxide column. Passenger exposure to traffic-emitted volatile hydrocarbons was 2-3 times higher for diesel bus commuters than for train commuters. The presence of road vehicles nearer to the buses explains this difference. Additional pollution in buses from their diesel exhaust strengthens commuter trains as a superior alternative with respect to the exposure of the passengers to hazardous air pollutants

Ambient solvent hydrocarbons from the gluing of table tennis bats.

Solvent hydrocarbons released to air from the controversial but widely applied gluing of table tennis bats were studied during the 1993 world championships in G\uf6teborg. Sampling on adsorbent cartridges and thermal desorption combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry were used for the determinations.The total concentrations recorded above the players\ub4 gluing tables were in the range 20-100 mg/m3. The prominent solvent constituents were C6(80%), and C8

Gas chromatographic separation of volatile furans from birchwood smoke

Furan, 2-methylfuran, 3-methylfuran, 2,5-dimethylfuran and the five isomeric C6 alkylfurans, two C7 alkylfurans and three C6-C7 alkenylfurans were determined in birchwood smoke by adsorbent sampling, gas chromatography and mass spectrometric techniques. Retention data, mass spectral data and quantitative proportions are given. Furan and 2-methylfuran are major components. Contrary to other oxygen-containing compounds, the furans elute from the aluminium oxide column widely used for volatile C2-C8 hydrocarbons. The furans are formed mainly from glowing and smouldering combustion