Analysis of Organic Compounds in Antarctic Snow and Their Origin |
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Authors: | Pier G Desideri Luciano Lepri Roberto Udisti Leonardo Checchini Massimo Del Bubba Renato Cini |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Public Health , Epidemiology and Environmental Analytical Chemistry. University of Florence , Via G. Capponi 9, 50121, Florence, Italy;2. Department of Organic Chemistry , Laboratory of Technical Physical Chemistry, University of Florence , Via G. Capponi 9, 50121, Florence, Italy |
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Abstract: | Abstract Organic compounds extractable with n-hexane were identified and quantitatively determined in pack, surface and deep snow samples taken at different depths and collected at several altitudes above sea level from Antarctica during the 1993/94 Italian expedition. The comparison between the composition of organic compounds in snow and the ones in pack and sea-water samples pointed out that the three matrices substantially contain the same biogenic and anthropogenic organic compounds. The contribution of marine aerosol to organic content in the snow is confirmed by the enrichment ratios calculated for the more representative classes of identified compounds (n-alkanes, phthalates and low molecular weight alkylbenzenes). The changes in the composition of organic compounds in snow as the altitude increases seem to depend on the dimensional spectrum of the aerosol. Thus, smallest particles, richest in surfactant material, reach the highest altitudes. |
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Keywords: | Antarctica snow pack chromatographic analysis marine aerosol |
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