The chemistry and analysis of large PAHs

A large economic problem in petroleum processing, the plugging of catalytic hydrocracking units, led to a study of the production of large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs) in this process. Through that work, many other studies of PAHs happened. These included the analysis of coal tar pitches, hydrothermal-vent bitumens, carbon black, Diesel particulate, and fullerene soots. Many new PAHs were synthesized or isolated during the course of these many studies.