The determination of oxy‐ and nitro‐derivatives of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air in Singapore

Abstract
Samples of ambient air particulates were collected for the analysis of oxy‐ and nitro‐derivatives of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The oxy‐PAHs and nitro‐PAHs were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection in the reductive mode. A zinc column was used to eliminate the presence of trace amounts of oxygen in the eluent system. The analytical technique has a limit of detection in the subnanogram level.