Assessment by gas chromatography and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry of volatile hydrocarbons from biomass burning

Journal article, 1995

Well over thirty combustion-formed non-methane hydrocarbons were determined from uncontrolled burning of biogenic materials. Results are given for straw, conifer twigs, newsprint and hardwood. Samples were taken on triple-layer adsorption cartridges. After thermal desorption, the hydrocarbons were separated by gas chromatography on an aluminium oxide column. Samples were also taken with a gas syringe and analyzed after gas injection. The hydrocarbon compositions were found to be remarkably similar for different kinds of biomass. Among 21 recorded alkenes and alkadienes, ethene was predominant, and the next most prominent species were propene and 1,3-butadiene. The large proportions of ethyne and the carcinogenic benzene increased further with increasing combustion efficiency.