Photochemistry of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons with Environmentally Relevant Metals

<p>The details of the work presented in this dissertation focus on simulated reactions in the atmosphere and water systems between persistent aromatic compounds and varying species of metals with an emphasis on iron. Bulk water suspensions of a standard soil and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were analyzed for soluble iron by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) following a 16 hour reaction period using simulated sunlight. Significant increases in soluble iron were only seen with 2-3 ring linear PAH and carboxylic acids.</p> <p>A two-stage study was conducted to investigate the potential for and possible mechanisms involving the photo-oxidation of PAH into humic-like substances (HULIS). Aqueous suspensions of PAH and oxidized PAH products are illuminated by a bench solar simulator and resulting samples are analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), UV-Vis, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transformer infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), solid-phase extraction (SPE), and electrospray ionization/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI/APCI-MS). HULIS production is based on comparison to SRFA and is observed in short chain PAH following a surface dependent path through naphthalene derivative intermediate structures. These results help explain brown carbon and health effects observed in areas affected by urban emissions.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Haynes, John P.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Brian J. Majestic, Ph.D.
• Shannon M. Murphy, Ph.D.
• Keith Miller
• Alex Huffman

• Atmospheric processing
• Humic-like substances
• Photochemistry
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• Soluble iron
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Chemistry

Statement dc:rights

• <p>Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1436

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:etd-2436