scholarly journals Changes in Urban Gas-Phase Persistent Organic Pollutants During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Barcelona

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raimon M. Prats ◽  
Barend L. van Drooge ◽  
Pilar Fernández ◽  
Esther Marco ◽  
Joan O. Grimalt
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Construction Material ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Quality Improvements ◽  
Subsequent Decrease ◽  
Household Products ◽  
Traffic Reduction ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

The composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) present in the gas-phase fraction of the atmosphere of Barcelona was analyzed during the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown and prior to this period. The changes in daily concentrations of CO, NO, NO2, O3 and particulate matter smaller than 10 μm (PM10) were considered for comparison. Bayesian analysis considering serial dependencies and seasonality showed statistically significant decreases of CO, NO, NO2, and PM10 (between −28 and −76%) and O3 increases (+45%) during lockdown. However, the lockdown concentration decreases of PeCB (−90.5%, from 8.5 to 0.8 pg m–3), HCB (−79%, 25.5–5.4 pg m–3) and some PAHs, such as benz[a]anthracene (−87%, 120–17 pg m–3) and pyrene (−81%, 3,500–680 pg m–3), were even stronger. The PAH depletion ranged between −68 and −87% that could be primarily associated with the strong reduction of traffic mobility during this period (−80%). Besides traffic reduction, the observed air quality improvements could be related to lower generation of solid urban residues (−25%) and the subsequent decrease of urban waste incineration (between −25 and −28%). Tributyl phosphate also showed a reduction in concentration during lockdown but the other OPFRs were seemingly not affected by this restriction, possibly as a result of the uniform release from the emission sources, e.g., construction material, industrial applications, and household products.

Reactivity Trends in the Gas Phase Addition of Acetylene to N-protonated Aryl Radical Cations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oisin Shiels ◽  
P. D. Kelly ◽  
Cameron C. Bright ◽  
Berwyck L. J. Poad ◽  
Stephen Blanksby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Ion Trap ◽  
Radical Cations ◽  
Rate Coefficients ◽  
Similar Process ◽  
Ion Molecule Reactions ◽  
Aromatic Radicals ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Gas Phase Ion ◽  
Type Radical

<div> <div> <div> <p>A key step in gas-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) formation involves the addition of acetylene (or other alkyne) to σ-type aromatic radicals, with successive additions yielding more complex PAHs. A similar process can happen for N- containing aromatics. In cold diffuse environments, such as the interstellar medium, rates of radical addition may be enhanced when the σ-type radical is charged. This paper investigates the gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of acetylene with nine aromatic distonic σ-type radical cations derived from pyridinium (Pyr), anilinium (Anl) and benzonitrilium (Bzn) ions. Three isomers are studied in each case (radical sites at the ortho, meta and para positions). Using a room temperature ion trap, second-order rate coefficients, product branching ratios and reaction efficiencies are reported. </p> </div> </div> </div>

scholarly journals Polymer Composites Filled with Metal Derivatives: A Review of Flame Retardants

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1701
Author(s):  
R. A. Ilyas ◽  
S. M. Sapuan ◽  
M. R. M. Asyraf ◽  
D. A. Z. N. Dayana ◽  
J. J. N. Amelia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymer Composites ◽  
Fire Resistance ◽  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Safety Concern ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Metal Particles ◽  
Thermoplastic Composites ◽  
Flame Resistance ◽  
Metal Derivatives ◽  
Resistance Performance

Polymer composites filled with metal derivatives have been widely used in recent years, particularly as flame retardants, due to their superior characteristics, including high thermal behavior, low environmental degradation, and good fire resistance. The hybridization of metal and polymer composites produces various favorable properties, making them ideal materials for various advanced applications. The fire resistance performance of polymer composites can be enhanced by increasing the combustion capability of composite materials through the inclusion of metallic fireproof materials to protect the composites. The final properties of the metal-filled thermoplastic composites depend on several factors, including pore shape and distribution and morphology of metal particles. For example, fire safety equipment uses polyester thermoplastic and antimony sources with halogenated additives. The use of metals as additives in composites has captured the attention of researchers worldwide due to safety concern in consideration of people’s life and public properties. This review establishes the state-of-art flame resistance properties of metals/polymer composites for numerous industrial applications.

Assessing decontamination and laundering processes for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and flame retardants from firefighting uniforms

2021 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 110616
Author(s):  
Andrew P.W. Banks ◽  
Xianyu Wang ◽  
Michelle Engelsman ◽  
Chang He ◽  
Andres F. Osorio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Flame Retardants ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

scholarly journals The Role of Methyl Groups in the Early Stage of Thermal Polymerization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Revealed by Molecular Imaging

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengcheng Chen ◽  
Shadi Fatayer ◽  
Bruno Schuler ◽  
Jordan N. Metz ◽  
Leo Gross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Thermal Polymerization ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Thermal Reactions ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

The initial thermal reactions of aromatic hydrocarbons are relevant to many industrial applications. However, tracking the growing number of heavy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) products is extremely challenging because many reactions are unfolding in parallel from a mixture of molecules. Herein, we studied the reactions of 2,7-dimethylpyrene (DMPY) to decipher the roles of methyl substituents during mild thermal treatment. We found that the presence of methyl substituents is key for reducing the thermal severity required to initiate chemical reactions in natural molecular mixtures. A complex mixture of thermal products including monomers, dimers, and trimers were characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry and non-contact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM). A wide range of structural transformations including methyl transfer and polymerization reactions were identified. A detailed mechanistic understanding was obtained on the roles of H radicals during the polymerization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

scholarly journals Scavenging ratio of polycyclic aromatic compounds in rain and snow at the Athabasca oil sands region

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 19395-19429
Author(s):  
L. Zhang ◽  
I. Cheng ◽  
D. Muir ◽  
J.-P. Charland
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Aromatic Compounds ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds ◽  
Particulate Phase ◽  
Athabasca Oil Sands ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Alkylated Pahs ◽  
Snow Samples ◽  
Air Concentrations

Abstract. Athabasca oil sands industry in northern Alberta, Canada is a possible source of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). Monitored PACs, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylated PAHs, and dibenzothiophenes, in precipitation and in air at three near-source sites in the Fort MacKay and Fort McMurray area during May 2011 to August 2012 were analyzed to generate a database of scavenging (or washout) ratios (Wt) for PACs scavenged by both snow and rain. Median precipitation and air concentrations of parent PAHs over the May 2011 to August 2012 period ranged from 0.3–184.9 (chrysene) ng L−1 and 0.01–3.9 (naphthalene) ng m−3, respectively, which were comparable to literature values. Higher concentrations in precipitation and air were observed for alkylated PAHs and dibenzothiophenes. The median precipitation and air concentrations were 11.3–646.7 (C3-fluoranthene/pyrene) ng L−1 and 0.21–16.9 (C3-naphthalene) ng m−3, respectively, for alkylated PAHs, and 8.5–530.5 (C4-dibenzothiophene) ng L−1 and 0.13–6.6 (C2-dibenzothiophene) ng m−3 for dibenzothiophenes and their alkylated derivatives. Median Wt over the measurement period were 6100–1.1 × 106 from snow scavenging and 350–2.3 × 105 from rain scavenging depending on the PAC species. Median Wt for parent PAHs were within the range of those observed at other urban and suburban locations. But Wt for acenaphthylene in snow samples was 2–7 times higher. Some individual snow and rain samples exceeded literature values by a factor of 10. Wt for benzo(a)pyrene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, and benzo(g,h,i)perylene in snow samples had reached 107, which is the maximum for PAH snow scavenging ratios reported in literature. From the analysis of data subsets, Wt for particulate-phase dominant PACs were 14–20 times greater than gas-phase dominant PACs in snow samples and 7–20 times greater than gas-phase dominant PACs in rain samples. Wt from snow scavenging was ∼9 times greater than rain scavenging for particulate-phase dominant PACs and 4–9.6 times greater than rain scavenging for gas-phase dominant PACs. Gas-particle fractions of each PAC, particle size distributions of particulate-phase dominant PACs, and Henry's Law constant of gas-phase dominant PACs explained, to a large extent, the different Wt values among the different PACs and precipitation types. This study verified findings from a previous study of Wang et al. (2014) which suggested that snow scavenging is more efficient than rain scavenging of particles for equivalent precipitation amount, and also provided new knowledge on the scavenging of gas-phase PACs by snow and rain.

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