Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Extender Oils, 08-R8026
Printer Friendly VersionPrincipal Investigator
Joseph C. Pan
Inclusive Dates: 01/01/09 – Current
Background - On December 18, 2006, the European Commission (EC) issued Directive 1907/2006, effective January 1, 2010, limiting specific levels of eight specific polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in extender oils used in tire manufacturing. The limits were set at 1mg/kg for benzo(a)pyrene and 10mg/kg for a total of 8 PAHs. No method for the PAH determination was designated by the EC Directive, which will measure specific PAH levels in extender oils, nor is there a sufficiently satisfactory standard PAH method available in the public domain.
SwRI intends to develop a highly precise and accurate PAH method for analysis of extender oils.
Approach - The proposed approaches are: 1) using a liquid-liquid partition method to separate PAHs from the bulk of the oil, 2) using solid adsorbent column chromatography methods to further separate PAHs from the residual oil, and 3) developing a GC/MS (gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry) method for PAH analysis using an isotope dilution technique.
Accomplishments - 1) SwRI has successfully tested two polar and three non-polar organic solvents that render good separation between PAHs and saturated hydrocarbons. 2) SwRI has successfully identified two solid adsorbents and conditions that provide good separation between PAHs and saturated hydrocarbons. 3) SwRI has successfully developed a GC/MS method that determines PAHs in oil sample extracts with high precision and accuracy.
