In situ simultaneous determination the photolysis of multi-component PAHs adsorbed on the leaf surfaces of living Kandelia candel seedlings

A fiber-optic fluorimetry for in situ simultaneous determination of fluorine (Flu), phenanthrene (Phe) and fluoranthene (Fla) adsorbed on the leaf surfaces of Kandelia candel (Kc) seedlings was developed. Experimental results showed that the linear ranges for determination of Flu, Phe and Fla adsorbed on Kc leaves were 35–700, 5–900 and 2–450 ng/spot, respectively. The detection limits for Flu, Phe and Fla were 9.11, 1.65 and 0.90 ng/spot and with the relative standard deviations less than 10.32%, 7.56% and 4.29% (n = 9), respectively. The recovery results for Flu, Phe and Fla adsorbed on Kc leaves were 83.0–91.2, 78.5–88.5 and 91.5–107.3%, respectively. Under the laboratory experimental conditions, the photolysis processes of Flu, Phe and Fla individual and in mixtures adsorbed on the leaf surfaces of living Kc seedlings were studied. Results showed that the photolysis of Flu, Phe and Fla individual and in mixtures adsorbed on the leaf surfaces of Kc seedlings followed first-order kinetics with photolysis rates in the order of Flu > Fla > Phe on the Kc leaves. An antagonistic effect was found when the three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were co-adsorbed on living Kc seedlings. The experimental results also indicated that photolysis was the main transformation pathway for Flu, Phe and Fla both individual and in mixtures adsorbed on Kc leaves, whereas disappearance of the adsorbed Flu, Phe and Fla as a result of volatilization and leaf absorption could be negligible during the experimental period.