Determination of coumarin in wastes from the production of illegal gas oil

Abstract

Coumarin in sulfuric acid-pitch/alkali-sludge was determined by GC/MS after an acidified liquid-liquid extraction of alkaline sample extracts. Shading at alkali extraction brought about a good result, and this was probably due to the prevention of UV-rays, which isomerize coumarin in an alkaline solution to trans-o-hydroxycinnamate anion. Outdoor samples of alkali-sludge and sulfuric acid-pitch contained 0.16~0.43 mg/kg and 51~72 mg/kg of coumarin, respectively; and these samples were thought to be derived from production of illegal gas oil. © 2010 The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.