Microscopic mechanisms for the growth and destruction of complex aromatic hydrocarbons: a mass spectrometric study.
Atomic and Molecular Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Trento, via Sommarive 14, I-38050 Povo-Trento, Italy
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed either during the incomplete combustion of organic materials or in energized environments such as ionized gases and gaseous discharges. Thus, a detailed understanding of the physical and chemical processes leading to formation and destruction of aromatic compounds is essential for the control of PAHs, which pose a serious health and environmental issue due to their carcinogenic and toxic effects. For instance, plasma processing of benzene using air as processing gas leads to the production of phenol and several heavier oxygen containing species. If the amount of oxygen is reduced, plasma processing leads to polymerization and formation of heavier aromatics. Ionic mechanisms operative in non-thermal plasmas can be investigated under controlled conditions using the technique of guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry.