Determination of aliphatic and aromatic compounds in aerosols collected at two semi‐rural stations in Majorca (Spain)

Abstract

A study of the aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in the aerosols collected at two semi‐rural stations located in the island of Majorca (Spain) has been carried out. A total of 27 aliphatic hydrocarbons ‐ranging from C₁₈ to C ₄₆‐ and the PAHs recommended by the American EPA with the only the substitution of acenaphthylene by benzo(e)pyrene have been studied. Results show that most of the aliphatic hydrocarbons (C₂₆‐C₄₅) originate from one or several common sources which are probably of biogenic type, since the value of the CPI for the two stations is close to unity. Several common sources have been also observed in aromatic hydrocarbons which through characteristic ratios calculated from well established sources have been identified as: vehicles, wood and coal soots, residential furnaces and coal combustion.