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 were investigated in this study. This project looks at catalytic and green approaches of converting PAHs 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 oxidized 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.