Characterization of nitro-PAH adsorbed on environmental micro particles: A comparison of LAMMA, Fourier transform mass spectrometry laser microprobes and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Characterization of nitro-PAHs has an important environmental interest. This work proposes a methodology for the systematic study of nitro-PAHs adsorbed on environmental aerosols, i.e. particles emitted by steel industry fumes. Direct analysis by LAMMA and FTMS has been combined with indirect characterization of nitro-PAHs by GC-MS-MS. The results suggest that LAMMA and FTMS laser microprobe analysis, used at very short wavelength and low energy (power densities about 9 x 10(6) W/cm(2)) allows the in situ desorption of high-molecular-weight compounds (PAHs and nitro-PAHs). This work is the first qualitative and potentially quantitative analytical approach for the analysis of these toxic and carcinogenic compounds adsorbed on a complex matrix.