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Comprehensive database of Manufactured Gas Plant tars. Part B. Aliphatic and aromatic compounds
Author(s) -
Gallacher Christopher,
Thomas Russell,
Lord Richard,
Kalin Robert M.,
Taylor Chris
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.7900
Subject(s) - chemistry , tar (computing) , coal tar , gas chromatography , extraction (chemistry) , organic chemistry , aromatic hydrocarbon , gas chromatography–mass spectrometry , mass spectrometry , coal , hydrocarbon , chromatography , computer science , programming language
Rationale Coal tars are a mixture of organic and inorganic compounds that were produced as a by‐product from the manufactured gas and coke making industries. The composition of the tar produced varies depending on many factors; these include the temperature of production and the type of retort used. As different production processes produce different tars, a comprehensive database of the compounds present within coal tars from different production processes is a valuable resource. Such a database would help to understand how their chemical properties differ and what hazards the compounds present within these tars might pose. This study focuses on the aliphatic and aromatic compounds present in a database of 16 different tars from five different production processes. Methods Samples of coal tar were extracted using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and derivatised post‐extraction using N , O ‐bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) with 1% trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS). The derivatised samples were analysed using two‐dimensional gas chromatography combined with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC/TOFMS). Results A total of 198 individual aliphatic and 951 individual aromatic compounds were detected within 16 tar samples produced by five different production processes. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content of coal tars varies greatly depending on the production process used to obtain the tars and this is clearly demonstrated within the results. The aliphatic composition of the tars provided an important piece of analytical information that would have otherwise been missed with the detection of petrogenic compounds such as alkyl cyclohexanes. Conclusions The aromatic compositions of the tar samples varied greatly between the different production processes investigated and useful analytical information was obtained about the individual production process groups. Alkyl cyclohexanes were detected in all samples from sites known to operate Carbureted Water Gas plants and not detected in those that did not. This suggests that petrogenic material may be expected at many UK gaswork sites.