Anthracene

Anthracene
Formula
C14H10

Natural state and human emission

Anthracene is used as an intermediate compound for the manufacturing of dyes and polyradicals used to make resins. It may also be used as a diluent for wood protection products, an insecticide, or a fungicide. Furthermore, anthracene is an organic cristallized photoconductor used in electrophotography.

In the nature, anthracene can be found to a small degree in fossil fuels (12 g/kg of coal). It is also present in fuel (100 to 300 mg/L) and petrol (1.55 mg/L, to 2,6 mg/L in high-octane petrols).

The main sources of anthropic emissions are the following:

• tailpipes of car motors (0.02 to 6.45 μg/m³);
• cokefaction and gaseifaction of coal and more generally emissions of coal kilns and fuel kilns;
• purification of petrol;
• use of impregnation oils for wood treatment;
• production of asphalt for roads covering;
• smoke of wood coal;
• combustion of pneumatic wastes (rubber).