Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives in atmospheric particulate matter collected in the Amazon Rainforest

• Grant number: 15/13647-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2015
• End date: August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Pérola de Castro Vasconcellos
• Grantee: Henrique Pereira Do Carmo de Carvalho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Amazon forest has been affected by deforestation and emissions from biomass burning. The city of Porto Velho is located in the northern state of Rondônia and is in the area of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. This study aims to identify and quantify the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and their derivatives present in particulate matter samples less than 10 micrometres diameter (PM10). The samples were collected in periods of intense and moderate burning, in quartz fiber filters using a high volume sampler (Hi-Vol). The extraction of organic material will be made by ultrasonic bath. Then, the organic extract will be fractionated. Fractions of PAH, nitro and oxy-PAH will be identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. These results will provide an interesting data for the chemical characterization of pollutants emitted by biomass burning in the Amazon region. (AU)