Remarks on the detection of phenols in airborne particulate matter

Summary Samples of suspended particulate matter collected in Duisburg were investigated for phenolic compounds. The loaded filters were extracted with dichloromethane for 10 hours in a soxhlet apparatus. The concentrated extract was resolved in cyclohexane and separated into a non polar and a polar fraction on alumina. The polar fraction was taken up in dichloromethane and steam-distilled. The distillate was extracted with ether. After the evaporation of the ether, the residue was resolved in dichloromethane and allowed to react with benzoyl chloride. After adding toluene the solution was reduced in volume and analyzed in a GC-MS system. For the separation of phenols by means of HPLC the enrichment of the phenols was performed without benzoylization. Six phenols were detected: hydroxibenzene, methylhydroxibenzene, hydroxibiphenyl, hydroxifluorene, benzylhydroxibenzene and dihydroxibiphenyl.