Separation and Identification of Mutagenic Constituents of Petroleum Substitutes

Abstract
A study combining chemical separations, mutagenicity testing, and spectroscopic identifications is underway to isolate and identify mutagens in coal-and shale-derived oils. Ether-aqueous partition combined with Sephadex LH-20 chromatography of the resulting neutral fraction is introduced as a preferred class fractionation procedure. The uniquely important role of polycyclic aromatic primary amines in the mutagenicity of petroleum substitutes is reviewed. Questions are raised concerning the role of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the mutagenicity of the neutral fraction of petroleum substitutes.