HPLC Determination of Nitrated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons after Their Reduction to Amino Derivatives

Abstract

High‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC‐FD) was used for the determination of 1‐nitropyrene, 2‐nitrofluorene, and 6‐nitrochrysene after their reduction to amino derivatives. As a reducing agent, titanium(III) complexed with citrate in a hydrochloric acid medium was used. Conditions for 1‐nitropyrene, 2‐nitrofluorene, and 6‐nitrochrysene reduction, and for separation of corresponding amino derivatives were found. The limit of detection was 68 pg for 2‐nitrofluorene, 82 pg for 2‐nitropyrene, and 629 pg for 6‐nitrochrysene. The applicability of this method for the determination of 1‐nitropyrene in water samples was verified.

Keywords:

• Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAH)
• Reduction by titanium(III)
• HPLC
• Fluorescence detection

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the University Development Fund (grant. no. 2003/2834 G4) and by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (research project 113100002).