Retention and Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Urban Air Based on Recycled Polyurethane Foam Modified with Expanded Polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyurethane foams (PUFs) are widely produced and used due to their properties and, recently, it has been described that polystyrene present pi-pi interactions. Therefore, this work proposes to use recycled EPS to modify the surface of PUFs for the retention of 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air samples. PUF cylinders were modified with recycled polystyrene and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and affinity experiments. The proposed material is suitable for the retention-elution of PAHs from air samples, and can be incorporated to liquid chromatography generating a quantitative methodology. This methodology is efficient, fast and use lower volumes of organic solvents compared with other methodologies. Eighteen urban air samples were collected and analyzed weekly, using principal component analysis (PCA), and a relation between meteorological parameters and concentration of PAHs was observed.

Automated summary

This study proposes to use recycled EPS to modify the surface of PUFs for the retention of 12 PAHs in air samples. The modified material is suitable for the retention-elution of PAHs from air samples and can be used in liquid chromatography for quantitative analysis. Eighteen urban air samples were collected and analyzed weekly, and a relationship between meteorological parameters and PAH concentration was observed using PCA.