Abstract
Motor exhaust gas from an automobile motor, operated under stationary conditions with unleaded gasoline, was sampled with two different impinger bath methods. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for phenol, cresols and nitrated phenols. Phenol and cresols were measured in the range of 80–220 nmol/L of exhaust gas from a noncatalyst engine, and nitrated phenols were found in the range of 9–36 nmol/L. A large reduction of total phenols down to 7% and less was observed when the engine was operated with a regulated three-way catalytic converter. The result of this study shows that exhaust gas sampling of phenols with alkaline aqueous impinger solutions leads to an underestimation of phenol emissions, since phenols are not stable under high-pH conditions.
In order to better assess the environmental fate of nitrated phenols, laboratory experiments were conducted to measure the Henry's law constants of a series of nitrated phenols. For that purpose an apparatus for dynamic determination of the Henry's law constants was constructed and successfully used. Special emphasis was put on temperature dependence of the Henry's law constants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alber, M., Böhm, H. B., Brodesser, J., Feltes, J., Levsen, K., and Schöler, H. F.: Determination of nitrophenols in rain and snow. Fresenius Z. Anal. Chem. 344, 540–545 (1989)
Atkinson, R., Carter, W. P. L., Darnal, K. R., Winer, A. M., Pitts, J. N. Jr.: A smog chamber and modelling study of the gas phase NOx-air photooxidation of toluene and the cresols. Int. J. Chem. Kin. 12, 779–836 (1980)
Atkinson, R.: Gas-phase tropospheric chemistry of organic compounds: a review. Atmos. Environ. 24A, 1–41 (1990)
Grosjean, D.: Atmospheric reactions of ortho cresols: gas phase and aerosol products Atmos. Environ. 18, 1641–1652 (1984)
Herterich R., Herrmann. R.: Comparing the distribution of nitrated phenols in the atmosphere of two German hill sites. Environ. Technol. 11, 961–972 (1990)
Kawamura, K. and. Kaplan., I. R.: Biogenic and anthropogenic organic compounds in rain and snow samples collected in Southern California. Atmos. Environ. 20, 115–124 (1986)
Leone, J. A., Seinfeld, J. H.: Comparative analysis of chemical reaction mechanism for photochemical smog. Atmos. Environ. 19, 437–464 (1985)
Leuenberger, C, Czuczwa, J., und Giger, W.: Fortschrittsbericht “Lufthaushalt und Luftverschmutzung in der Schweiz”. Teilprogramm 1 Art und Ausma\ von Luftverunreinigungen: Organische Verbindungen in NiederschlÄgen (1985)
Leuenberger, C., Czuczwa, J., Tremp, J., and Giger, W.: Nitrated phenols in rain: atmospheric occurence of phytotoxic pollutants. Chemosphere 17, 511–515 (1988)
Leuenberger, C., Ligocki, M. P., and Pankow, J. F.: Trace organic compounds in rain. 4. Identities, concentrations and scavenging mechanisms for phenol in urban air and rain. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 1053–1058 (1985)
Mackay D., Shiu W. Y.: A critical review of Henry's law constants for chemicals of environmental interest. J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 10, 1175–1199 (1981)
Nojima K., Kawaguchi A., Ohia T., Kanno S., and Hirobe M.: Studies of photochemical reactions of air pollutants. X. Identification of nitrophenols in suspended particulates. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 31, 1047–51 (1983)
Rippen, G., Zietz, E., Frank, R., Knacker, T., and Kloepffer, W.: Do airborne nitrophenols contribute to forest decline? Environ. Technol. Lett. 8, 475–482 (1987)
Schwarzenbach R. P., Stierli. R., Folsom B. R., and. Zeyer. J.: Compound properties relevant for assessing the environmental partitioning of nitrophenols. Environ. Sci. Technol. 22, 83–92 (1988)
Tremp J.: Sources and fate of nitrated phenols in the atmospheric environment. Ph. D. thesis (1992)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tremp, J., Mattrel, P., Fingler, S. et al. Phenols and nitrophenols as tropospheric pollutants: Emissions from automobile exhausts and phase transfer in the atmosphere. Water Air Soil Pollut 68, 113–123 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00479396
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00479396