Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the environment: high-performance liquid chromatography using chemically modified columns

Abstract

A simple and rapid procedure for the separation and determination of a number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental dust samples is described. An ultrasonic extraction method was used to separate the organic compounds from the dust particles. Only small amounts of dust and solvents are needed and the extraction requires only a few minutes. Compounds that would interfere in UV detection after high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are separated from the aromatic fraction by preparative thin-layer chromatography on silica gel. The chromatographic behaviour of the carcinogenic hydrocarbons on several stationary phases in HPLC was investigated. A comparison of the chromatographic data showed that silica gel chemically modified with NO 2 groups gives the best selectivity. Nanogram amounts of PAHs were easily detected by using a UV monitor.