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The primary objective of this study is to determine the concentration of semi-volatile n-alkanes (C15-C36) in the Taipei aerosol and their distributions between gaseous and particulate phases. The distribution profile of n-alkanes was used to examine the significance of various. The seasonal changes of semi-volatile n-alkanes in the Taipei aerosol was also investigated. We used quartz fiber filters mounted in a Model PS-1 PUF Sampler (Graseby GMW) to collect samples of total suspended particulate (TSP). The n-alkanes in gaseous phase were adsorbed by PUF and XAD-2 inserted in a cartridge and attached downstream of the filter holder of the sampler. The samples were collected at a flowrate of 200 lpm for a 24 hr duration. The n-alkanes collected on filters, PUF and XAD-2 were extracted with CH2Cl2 in a Soxhlet extraction apparatus. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the n-alkanes were carried out by GC/FID. The results of analysis for aerosol samples, obtained in four sampling periods between June 1996 to March 1997 at Chung Shan Elementary School in the city of Taipei, show that the concentration of particulate total n- alkanes ranged from 9.5 to 236.8 ng/m3, and that of gaseous total n-alkanes ranged from 0.27 to 5.38 mg/m3. The vapor-to- particle ratio of n-alkanes depends on the ambient tempurature and the carbon number. The distribution profile and values of other indices of n-alkanes in the Taipei urban area show that they mainly come from emission of motor vehicles
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