Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Azaarenes in a Coal Tar

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Abstract
A coal tar sample taken from a well located on the site of a former coal tar distillation plant was dissolved in methylene chloride and fractionated into acids, bases, and neutrals by acid/base partitioning. Alumina chromatography was used to separate the base fraction into five fractions, one of which contained the azaarenes. These fractions were subjected to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The fraction containing the azaarenes was also analyzed by ammonia chemical ionization and thermospray liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Sixteen different azaarenes ranging from MW 143 to MW 301 and seven isomers azabenzopyrene were detected in the coal tar. The identification and the environmental significance of these compounds are discussed.