title: Photochemical transformations of benzo[e]pyrene in solution and adsorbed on silica gel and alumina surfaces.
abstract: The photodegradation of benzo[e]pyrene (BeP), a ubiquitous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminant, was investigated in solution and adsorbed on surfaces modeling the atmospheric particulate matter to provide fundamental information that could help to clarify its fate in the atmosphere. Diones, diols, and hydroxy derivatives were identified as the major photoproducts of BeP irradiated under simulated atmospheric conditions. The relative distribution of the products and the photodegradation rates of BeP were affected by the average pore size of the surface. Major photoproducts characterized in samples adsorbed on silica gel and alumina surfaces were not observed in irradiated solutions of BeP in hexane. In acetonitrile, the photodegradation rate was faster than in hexane, and one of the diones was observed. Different photoreaction pathways seem to take place in polar versus nonpolar microenvironments.
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Technology, Universidad del Turabo, P.O. Box 3030, Gurabo, Puerto Rico 00778-3030.
authors.forename: Silvina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fioressi
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arce
mesh_terms: D000097:Acetonitriles; D000327:Adsorption; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D001580:Benzopyrenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006586:Hexanes; D008027:Light; D008628:Mercury; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010782:Photolysis; D016062:Porosity; D058428:Silica Gel; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D000097:Acetonitriles; D001580:Benzopyrenes; D006586:Hexanes; D012996:Solutions; C026385:n-hexane; D058428:Silica Gel; C026487:benzo(e)pyrene; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D008628:Mercury; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; C032159:acetonitrile