Composition of torched crude oil organic particulate emitted by refinery and its similarity to atmospheric aerosol in the surrounding area.
The absolute contents and relative distributions of organic aerosols [n-alkanes, n-alkanoic and n-alkenoic acids, n-alkan-2-ones and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)] were determined in torched gases emitted during the crude oil extraction and in the free atmosphere of the Hassi-Messaoud city (Algeria). Monocarboxylic acids, both saturated and monounsaturated (from 9802 to 20,057 ng m(-3)), accounted for the major fraction of the total particulate organic matter identified both in torch exhaust and atmospheric particulate. n-Alkanes were also abundant both in the direct emission (from 460 to 632 ng m(-3)) and city atmosphere (462 ng m(-3)) and displayed a peculiar fingerprint characterised by the presence of a set of branched congeners around even carbon-numbered homologues and a strong even-to-odd predominance along the whole carbon number range (C16-C34). Whilst n-alkan-2-ones were absent in the city and poor in smokes emitted from the torches (from 31 to 42 ng m(-3)), PAH were present at low extents in all sites (from 18 to 65 ng m(-3)). The incomplete thermal combustion of torched crude oil was very likely the main source of these particle-bound organic constituents in the city and its surrounding region.
Yassaa
Noureddine
N
Laboratory of Functional Organic Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Sciences and Technology, Houari Boumediene, U.S.T.H.B., BP 32, El-Alia, Bab-Ezzouar, 16111 Algiers, Algeria. nyassaa@mailcity.com
Cecinato
Angelo
A
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000462:Algeria; D000473:Alkanes / Q000032:analysis; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010578:Petroleum / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000473:Alkanes; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons