Chemical Characterization of Organic Adsorbates on Diesel Particulate Matter

The organic adsorbates on diesel particulate matter are characterized by a combination of chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques. These data are obtained for particulate matter generated under constant engine operating conditions using a model fuel and a synthetic lubricant, with air or argon/oxygen as the oxidant systems. The significance of these results Is that the polycyclic aromatic compounds which were produced by these experiments are the Inherent products from the diffusion controlled combustion In a diesel engine. Also, these results suggest that there are common Intermediates which produce the polycyclic aromatic compounds that are Independent of the structure and chain length of the hydrocarbon fuel. Preliminary results also Indicate that the nitro derivatives of polycyclic aromatic compounds are produced by secondary reaction of the oxides of nitrogen which are formed from the nitrogen In the oxidant.