Resumen

GAMBOA, ADRIANA et al. Determinación de compuestos saturados en partículas sedimentadas en la ciudad de Valencia, Venezuela. Rev. Fac. Ing. UCV [online]. 2005, vol.20, n.4, pp.99-104. ISSN 0798-4065.

Atmospheric settled particles collected in terraced roofs from buildings situated in different areas of the city of Valencia were analyzed for saturated hydrocarbons by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The samples from the studied zones show the presence of n-paraffin’s, steranes and hopanes compounds. The pattern of paraffin distribution and the values for preferential carbon index suggest different kinds of sources (natural and anthropogenic), cyclic hopanes indicate the influence of sources such as lubricant oils and gasoil. The results allow us to classify Valencia in two areas: one to the north influenced by natural organic matter, and other around the south with a significant anthropogenic contribution (garbage burning, fossil fuel) combustion and industrial emissions.

Palabras clave : saturated hydrocarbons; biomarkers; settled particles; n-alkanes.