Analytical and biological analyses of test materials from the synthetic fuel technologies. III. Use of sephadex LH-20 gel chromatography technique for the bioassay of crude synthetic fuels.

To determine the health effects associated with newly emerging energy technologies, we have subjected a group of synthetic fuels to mutagenicity evaluation, using the Ames Salmonella assay. Coupling of chemical fractionation to the mutagenicity assays was necessary. Fractions obtained by use of Sephadex LH-20 gel chromatography on crude-coal-derived oils and shale oil were tested for mutagenicity with strain TA98 (with Aroclor S9 mix). Mutagenicity results obtained with synthetic fuels were compared with those from a mixture of natural petroleum crude oils. Merits of the Sephadex LH-20 separation technique and precautions in interpreting experimental results are discussed.