Open AccessEnvironmental fate of five radio-labeled coal conversion by-products evaluated in a laboratory model ecosystem
Author(s) -
Po-Yung Lu,
Robert L. Metcalf,
Elaine M. Carlson
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
environmental health perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 282
eISSN - 1552-9924
pISSN - 0091-6765
DOI - 10.1289/ehp.7824201
Subject(s) - dibenzofuran , dibenzothiophene , carbazole , environmental chemistry , anthracene , chemistry , biodegradation , fluorene , sulfone , organic chemistry , sulfur , polymer
Anthracene, fluorene, carbazole, dibenzofuran, and dibenzothiophene are five typical by-products of coal conversion which are likely to be environmental pollutants. These were radiolabeled to high specific activity and purity by simple tritium exchange and evaluated for environmental fate in laboratory model ecosystems. Anthracene and fluorene were biologically converted to hydroxy and keto analogs. Carbazole was N-methylated and N-acetylated. Dibenzothiophene was microsomally oxidized to the sulfoxide and sulfone. Dibenzofuran was relatively inert to biodegradation. The octanol/water partition coefficient for the parent compounds was well correlated with ecological magnification indicating the possibility of predicting environmental behavior from physicochemical parameters.