Catalytic oxidation and reduction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present as mixtures in hydrothermal media

The reactivity of fluorene, anthracene and fluoranthene under oxidation and reduction conditions has been investigated in this study. This project looks at catalytic and green approaches of converting PAH to less toxic and/or less stable derivatives that are amenable to further degradation. Hydrothermal reactions have been performed at 300 C with pure H2O and Nafion-SiO2 catalyst for oxidation, and pure H2O, HCOOH, Pd-C and Nafion-SiO2 catalysts for reductive hydrogenation. Time series has been performed for both the oxidation and hydrogenation systems. The products of the reaction were identified and quantified by the use of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and the NIST Library. The reaction products include oxidised products of anthracene and fluorene; and hydrogenated derivatives of anthracene and fluoranthene. Fluoranthene did not undergo oxidation; and fluorene did not undergo hydrogenation under the conditions of this research.